Breathing new life into listed buildings

Falcons Primary school is a Sikh-ethos school that operates under the government’s Free Schools programme. The school, in Leicester, UK, teaches a Sikh curriculum to local students. The school’s building, a Grade II listed former hospital building, was built in the 1800s. RSK assisted in the two-phase development to make the listed building appropriate for its new purpose.

Phase 1 involved removing load-bearing walls and constructing external entrances to the listed building. Phase 2 comprised construction of a new split-level building containing the school hall, kitchens, library and classrooms, and a large playground to the rear. The Phase 2 development, built on a sloping site, proved challenging owing to the topography and the proximity to the existing listed building. The school was built on grounds with plenty of open space and greenery, which enabled the school to open a forest school and work with the local Rotary Club to create a peace garden in the grounds. The school opened in October 2014 and educates almost 430 pupils of all faiths.