London-based architecture studio Jestico & Whiles has unveiled comprehensive plans to refurbish the iconic Smithdon High School in Norfolk, England, originally designed by renowned architects Alison and Peter Smithson in the 1950s. The Grade II-listed secondary school, previously known as Hunstanton School and completed in 1954, represents a significant example of New Brutalist architecture that urgently requires updating to preserve its architectural integrity and functionality.
The historic school consists of two glass and steel structures that have deteriorated over the decades, prompting concerns about the building's long-term viability. According to Jestico & Whiles, the extensive refurbishment project aims to resolve numerous structural and functional issues with the building's fabric, ensuring that the school can be "used fully as the Smithsons had originally intended." The renovation will address critical problems while respecting the architectural vision of the original designers.
"This unique project aims to save this highly significant building before it is too late," explained Ben Marston, director at Jestico & Whiles. The comprehensive updates will include installing new facade glazing, expanding classroom spaces, and removing what the architects describe as "unsympathetic additions" that have compromised the building's original design over the years. These modifications will also improve accessibility throughout the facility.
The ambitious redevelopment is being funded through the Department for Education's School Rebuilding Programme, with Jestico & Whiles leading the design process in collaboration with several specialist firms. The project team includes contractor Bowmer & Kirkland, conservation architects Purcell, planning consultants DPP, and engineering firm Arup. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the renovated school expected to reopen in 2028. During the construction period, temporary classroom blocks will be erected on-site to maintain educational services.
The school's distinctive architectural features reflect the Smithsons' pioneering approach to New Brutalism, with two-story blocks formed from a rectilinear concrete and steel framework infilled with brick. True to the movement's principles, materials and building services were deliberately left exposed across both exterior and interior surfaces. Notable elements of the complex include a free-standing water tower, a listed gymnasium, and a dramatic double-height hall, which will see its infill offices removed to restore the original connection with internal courtyards.
One of the most pressing issues addressed in the renovation involves overheating problems that have caused numerous fixed glass panes across the facade to break over time. The existing windows will be completely replaced with high-performance glazing designed to better regulate internal temperatures. Additional improvements include reopening roof lights that had been previously concealed, repositioning the main entrance for better accessibility, and rearranging internal partitions to create larger, more functional classroom spaces.
The project also emphasizes environmental sustainability and energy efficiency improvements. Initiatives will include comprehensive insulation upgrades throughout the building, installation of a new all-electric heating system to replace outdated infrastructure, and construction of a substantial 2,750 square meter photovoltaic array to generate renewable energy. These modernizations will significantly reduce the school's carbon footprint while maintaining its architectural character.
"By addressing these functional challenges, the whole building will be able to be fully used once more," the studio explained in their project description. "This in turn means that a series of unsympathetic additions can be cleared, restoring the building's original arrangement and architectural integrity." The conservation work will also improve transparency at ground floor level and bring the central hall closer to its original character as envisioned by the Smithsons.
This refurbishment represents part of a broader trend in preserving significant brutalist architecture from the mid-20th century. Jestico & Whiles has previous experience in similar projects, including the recent updating of a historic London school with a contemporary approach to its Grade II-listed Edwardian campus. The Smithsons' architectural legacy includes other notable brutalist works, such as the Robin Hood Gardens housing estate, which was controversially demolished in 2017 with only a fragment preserved in the V&A East Storehouse, and the Economist Plaza, which underwent renovation by London-based DSDHA.
The Smithdon High School refurbishment project highlights the ongoing challenges and opportunities in preserving modernist architectural heritage while adapting historic buildings for contemporary educational needs. The careful balance between conservation and necessary updates demonstrates how significant 20th-century architecture can be successfully maintained for future generations while ensuring functional effectiveness in modern educational environments.
