The conversion of redundant office building into a Language School, teaching English to overseas students, the existing building was Grade II Listed and situated in central Brighton, opposite Brighton Pavilion. The clients owned the neighbouring building, and the proposed design sought to increase their overall teaching space, connecting the two buildings at each floor.

MortonScarr undertook studies into the utilisation of the client’s existing spaces in order to gain an in depth understanding of their requirements, which in turn would underpin the project’s design brief. The resulting design creates contemporary classroom spaces using internal glazed partitions and feature colours to identify each floor, alongside break out spaces and a new reception area to provide waiting space for students between classes.

A new staircase links the ground and lower ground floors, designed in sprayed black timber with oak treads, and yellow painted recessed handrail detail.

A lower ground floor social space features informal curved seating banquettes to its perimeter, with a multicolour rubber floor.