London-based architecture studio Walters & Cohen has completed The Rausing Science Centre at The King's School in Canterbury, Kent, creating a modern educational facility that respectfully integrates with the historic cathedral precinct. The new building features six science classrooms and a 120-person lecture hall, replacing the former Mitchinson's Day House that was demolished after Historic England denied its listing application.

The project presented unique challenges due to its sensitive location alongside one of only two entrances into Canterbury's historic cathedral precinct. Walters & Cohen balanced traditional materials and gabled forms with what they describe as a "crisp and contemporary" architectural approach. The building connects to existing laboratories in the neighboring Grade II-listed Parry Hall through a glazed link, which the studio also refurbished as part of the project.

"The materials of the cathedral precincts are a fine-grained Normandy limestone called Caen stone, flint, oak and clay tiled roofs," explained co-founder Cindy Walters. "We used the same palette of materials detailed in a crisp and contemporary manner." The construction process required multiple Scheduled Ancient Monument Applications, complex negotiations with the Cathedral Fabric Commission for England, and a nine-month pause to conduct detailed archaeological excavations.

The building's street-facing facade showcases an innovative use of flint cladding, featuring two rows of windows framed in pale stone and oak, topped by a gabled roof of red-clay tiles. A subtle pattern based on the DNA sequence of an artichoke is embedded within the flint facade, represented by horizontal bands of square knapped flint that create visual contrast with the surrounding irregular snapped flint. This scientific reference adds meaning to the building's educational purpose while maintaining historical continuity.

On the opposite side overlooking Mint Yard courtyard to the north, the stone window openings extend almost the full height of the facade, creating dramatic vertical emphasis. The project included significant upgrades to the surrounding public realm, including a new patio with walk-on glass that illuminates the basement below. Future plans include resurfacing the roads leading into the precinct to further enhance the area's accessibility and appearance.

The glazed connection between The Rausing Centre and the refurbished Parry Hall laboratories serves multiple functions, allowing the buildings to share an elevator system that improves accessibility across the campus. "The public realm both at the north gate to the precincts and in the grassed court known as the Mint Yard is more generous and pedestrian-focused," Walters noted. "The ground floor lecture theatre allows views through the building that were not there before and the space is constantly in use."

Inside the building, the ground floor features a flexible timber-lined lecture space that can function as a 120-seat auditorium or be subdivided into smaller seminar spaces using movable partitions. The remaining three levels house six specialized science classrooms, with basement facilities adjacent to plant and storage areas, and second-floor classrooms positioned beneath exposed timber beams of the steeply sloping roof structure.

This project represents Walters & Cohen's continued commitment to educational architecture that honors historical context while meeting contemporary needs. The studio previously designed accommodation blocks for the same school using handmade clay tiles, demonstrating their expertise in creating cohesive campus environments that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern functionality.