Pembroke Senior School fosters a dynamic arts programme, but the Campus had few facilities suitable for teaching this discipline.

Grieve Gillett Architects was commissioned to design a new arts centre for the School, incorporating visual arts facilities: studios, a darkroom, workshops and display spaces; and drama facilities incorporating rehearsal, workshop and performance spaces. In addition, a 500 seat Assembly Hall has been provided, with the capacity to accommodate whole of school activities, performances and School examinations.

The new facility has capitalised on previously underutilised land and replaced several buildings of poor amenity. The building addresses the main quadrangle space on the Campus reinforcing its character – a cloistered environment comprising red brick buildings, some dating from the 1920s in construction. It also creates a new courtyard space which provides quiet recreation spaces and an area for displaying sculpture.

The development creates a new street presence for the senior school and provides equitable access to the majority of existing buildings on the site.