Earlier this year, an official opening for the Dyson STEAM building took place at Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk. Following an £18.75 million investment in the project, construction of the centre was made possible by the generous donation from former Gresham's School pupil Sir James Dyson.
The hub features state-of-the-art facilities, offering learning resources and opportunities in the STEAM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. It includes classrooms, laboratories, workshops, an auditorium staircase, and light, open, communal spaces.
Architects Wilkinson Eyre designed the Dyson STEAM building, working alongside the Dyson team, the school, local stakeholders, and the local authority. Kier won the contract for the build, located on the former site of the Britten Building, also constructed by Kier.
The structure combines a light steel frame with high-performance insulation, cladding and thermally efficient glazing. The 4,000m2 two-storey building features natural ventilation, photovoltaic panels, and ground source heat pumps to increase energy efficiency. The centres design complements the local environment while being sympathetic to its history and surrounding buildings. The light steel frame has been left exposed as part of the design feature, while the cladding is a mix of oxidised copper and large glass panels to enhance the light, modern aesthetic, with some of the panels set back to create open areas for outdoor learning.
Work on the centre began in 2021, and the project has since seen recognition from Constructing Excellence after being named regional winner (East of England) in the Integration and Collaborative Working category. Sir James Dyson attended the site in July to give a speech as part of an official opening event.
Speaking about the centre, Sir James said:
"Gresham's has a great tradition of nurturing creative minds, and I hope that the Dyson Building will inspire current and future pupils. The world needs radical and creative ideas which can solve the big problems we face, and I hope that many great minds will be fostered within these spaces. Having art and design in the same building as engineering, science and maths introduces the notion that engineering, and science are creative careers. Wilkinson Eyre's floor-to-ceiling glass and wide corridors evoke a sense of adventure, and the auditorium staircase encourages discussion and integration of the disciplines within."
Images: Gresham's School/Wilkinson Eyre
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