World-class science facilities for a larger student body in the UK’s most historic school.

A teaching block featuring six state-of-the-art physics labs, a flexible auditorium for up to 140 people, and staff and circulation areas. It connects to refurbished biology and chemistry facilities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. It is the school’s first new build inside the precincts of Canterbury’s Cathedral since the 1970s.

The King’s School Canterbury is an independent, co-educational, day and boarding school located in Kent; the site has multiple historic designations including Scheduled Ancient Monument, Conservation Area, Area of Archaeological Importance, as well as World Heritage Site. Nestled in this culturally cherished environment, and with a community deeply invested in preserving the school’s heritage, the Rausing Science Centre demanded careful consideration and construction, to integrate modern design and blend in with its Grade I-listed surroundings at the Mint Yard in the Precincts.

Skelly & Couch provided services from early feasibility stages to completion, as part of a series of commissions for the school during their longstanding and successful association.

The new building sympathetically accommodates the flint and stonework of the new and existing façades. Its first and second floors feature four physics laboratories, the ground floor hosts a flexible science auditorium for teaching and lectures accommodating up to 140 people, and divisible for smaller audiences.

Below ground, a new basement accommodates two further laboratories, offices, staff and prep rooms, and a boiler room, showcasing a design that required excavating Roman roads to create a modern facility. This boiler room houses the building’s heating system and a new, efficient system for the Grade II Listed Parry Hall, now connected via a glazed link that enhances access and usability of both buildings.

The building optimises internal conditions with ample daylighting and natural ventilation, ensuring sufficient fresh air while minimising overheating. This is achieved through well-placed openings and the building's natural thermal mass, which passively cools the spaces. Furthermore, deep window reveals provide shading reducing solar gains.

A control system monitors temperatures and air quality, enhancing energy efficiency, comfort, and overall well-being. LED lighting and low water usage fittings were used throughout.

The Rausing Science Centre combines cutting-edge science facilities with the school's rich historical context, fostering collaboration and supporting the needs of a growing student community.