International College for The King's School, Canterbury

The International College is a new addition to the historic school. When King’s acquired a 1.25-hectare ex-industrial site on the edge of Canterbury’s city centre, they asked us to undertake a feasibility study to include six houses for staff, a flood-lit sports hall with changing facilities, the International College, and a new drama centre and theatre in the 19th-century Malthouse building (undertaken by another practice). The scheme was granted consent with unanimous support from the City of Canterbury’s planning committee in March 2017.

The college acts as a stepping stone for students aged 11-16 entering the English school system from abroad. Classrooms line the ground floor, with breakout spaces facing the courtyard. On the first and second floors, en suite bedrooms house up to 80 students, with staff flats on both levels. Reflecting the site’s industrial heritage, the building is clad in Corten steel and elegant concrete, complementing the Malthouse adjacent with contemporary flair.