In Hackney we have designed a girls secondary school for 450 Jewish pupils.
It slots into a tight residential site and combines state school facilities with the features required for its function at the heart of the Charedi Jewish community. In the confidence and sensitivity of the design, it provides a compelling example of how sound commercial experience can sustain the most deeply-held traditional practices and beliefs.

The approach from the street is restrained, modesty being a central principle of the Charedi way of life. Positioned at the building's core is a dramatic double-height hall, used daily by the school and suitable for weddings and other religious gatherings. Slender steel columns support a laminated timber roof high above the walls, admitting daylight through clerestory windows. Red elm veneered acoustic panels line the space, concealing services. A retractable acoustic wall allows complete separation of different areas. For certain Jewish festivals, a sliding roof light above the stage can be deployed.