St Thomas School wished to establish a new Ecology & STEAM Centre to deepen their environmentally focused philosophy. The school’s purchase of the adjacent character buildings – former signage workshops – allowed additional classrooms and a multipurpose centre for specialty subjects, while addressing Goodwood Road for the first time.

The industrial past informed the versatile workshop, accommodating hands-on curriculum including science, technology, art and cooking. The revived Dance Hall celebrates another chapter in the building’s history, providing a space for performing arts classes and intimate performances. Beyond the original walls lies the undercover ecology hub. The courtyard forms an outdoor learning area, featuring tiered seating and productive garden, while serving as a link to the main campus.

Original materials were retained and left untouched where possible, including the character shopfronts, exposed concrete, brickwork and trusses. Modest in scale and intervention, this unique revitalisation strengthens ties to the community – both present and past.