Creating space for every sitting
THE ASPIRATION
Making room for every meal
King’s College School had outgrown its existing dining facilities. With five sittings needed at each mealtime, the school urgently needed a larger, more efficient space to support its growing pupil numbers and enhance day-to-day operations. A largely disused area at the rear of the main school building offered the opportunity for redevelopment, but the site’s live school environment and operational pressures made the project especially sensitive.
OUR RESPONSE
Managing complexity with care
We were appointed as Project Managers, leading the delivery of this £4 million scheme within a live, sensitive school environment. From the outset, our focus was on ensuring safe, phased delivery with minimal disruption to staff and pupils.
Following successful navigation of planning and heritage sensitivities, we managed the demolition of underused changing areas to make way for a new dining hall and front-of-house facilities, while maintaining full school operations throughout. A carefully planned logistics strategy included clear segregation between pupils and contractors, a dedicated site compound and the strict following of safeguarding and DBS procedures.
We programmed the project with an enabling package, including a gas mains diversion and the noisiest demolition works prior to the school year to minimise disruption. Once school commenced, we phased the project so that the kitchen could be operational throughout and the need for expensive temporary dining was avoided. Strong communication with the school team underpinned the project, ensuring every stage was carefully aligned with academic timetables and safeguarding priorities.
THE RESULT
Delivering space and function
Both the new dining hall and the refurbished front-of-house areas were completed on budget and on time for the new 2025/2026 academic year. The completion date was unmoved throughout both the planning and build period. The school will gain a significantly enhanced space that supports daily operations and future growth.
THE LASTING IMPACT
Supporting school life, every day
This project creates a more functional, welcoming heart for school life at King’s. By delivering modern, flexible space within a historic setting, we’ve helped improve daily operations and supported the school’s long-term vision – all while minimising disruption to learning. The result is a practical, high-quality facility that balances tradition with future-ready thinking.
Find out more about our Project Management expertise.
