The Dyson Building is a new educational centre for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). It is an important addition to the facilities at Gresham’s School in Norfolk. Former Gresham’s student Sir James Dyson donated £19 million to create this prestigious new establishment. The architects are Wilkinson Eyre, winners of the Stirling Prize and Lubetkin Prize.  The new building stands opposite the chapel and near to the Britten Music School, for which we were the acoustics consultants. Once again we were delighted to be appointed for the acoustic design of the Dyson STEAM building.

The building provides an outstanding focal point for the engineers of the future.  In addition to conventional teaching spaces, there are workshops, laboratories, informal study areas and a gallery for showcasing students’ work.  The design concept incorporates an open feel which encourages collaboration between students of different disciplines.  In the words of headmaster Douglas Robb, “The Dyson Building represents an aspiration jointly held by Sir James and Gresham’s School – that learning should be joined up and innovation encouraged”.

Spread across a floor area of 3900 square metres, the building features a light steel frame and exposed finishes along with a thermally efficient glazing system.   The design benefits from other ecologically sound characteristics, such as green walls and a sedum roof.

We were appointed for Stages 2 to 6 of the project and worked alongside the architects, the contractor Kier Eastern and project managers Daniel Connal Partnership with whom we formed a very successful partnership for the design of the Britten Building which opened in 2017 and won a number of awards.

The Dyson Building is now fully operational.

Client: Gresham’s School
Architect: Wilkinson Eyre
Contractor: Kier Eastern
Project manager: Daniel Connal Partnership

Contract value : £19m

Photo concepts credit: Wilkinson Eyre
CATT model: Adrian James Acoustics