Practice
—Whilst a general architectural practice, LGH have over the last 25 years developed a particular expertise in the education sector. LGH offer a specialist, personalised and professional design service to both the public and private sector in nursery, primary, secondary and further education establishments.
Our work has been rewarded by a number of RIBA awards and commendations over the years including The Gateway Academy, The John Warner Sports Centre, The Leys School and The Needham Research Institute.
We have completed a number of whole new schools and academies over recent years. We have successfully delivered designs for over 100 significant Education building projects, each treated individually with bespoke design solutions to meet the tailored needs of clients.
“LGH has designed buildings that proved to be economic and above all excellent teaching environments, delivered on time and within budget. I’m pleased to say that some of them have won design awards.”
David J Kennedy, Head Teacher, The John Warner School
Approach
—We strive to create inspirational buildings in which learning becomes a pleasure. Our transformational school designs have helped assist school pupils fulfill their potential with dramatic changes in their approach to learning. A number of our schools have been awarded Ofsted ‘outstanding’ in subsequent inspections following completion of their new buildings/facilities. We strongly believe there is a direct link between the quality of the teaching environment, achievement and willingness to learn.
All clients are different and each are treated individually albeit with the same degree of passion to produce exciting, high quality environments whilst adopting a realistic approach to ensure affordability. Differing sites have specific constraints and conditions, each of which will inform strategic planning ensuring that the resultant design optimises opportunities.
We strive to adopt natural ‘passive’ strategies to ensure that our buildings have a positive effect on both the internal building environment but also on the environment as a whole. Our buildings are based on a tried and tested palette of materials from sustainable sources and alternative energies and systems are explored with a pragmatic approach to viability and affordability.
“Overwhelmingly, students, teachers, governors, the Local Authority, ministers and the wider community have praised the design of the building and its positive impact on the school’s ethos and quality of provision.”
Kevin Sadler, Principal, The Gateway Academy
Services
—We are a dedicated team of enthusiastic, experienced and creative design professionals. We operate a CAD system based on Apple Macs using Vectorworks and are able to produce effective drawing packages and complex 3D models to promote and explore our designs at an early stage in the design process.
Additional skills and services we can offer include effective management skills in liaising with multi-headed clients, strategic development planning, funding procurement project management and client advisory services. We have a very successful track record of obtaining planning approvals for buildings in challenging sites, including the Thames flood plain and tight urban sites in Cambridge.
