Revitalising a Norwich Landmark: The Hewett Academy Enters a New Era

We recently caught up with Associate Douglas Craven to explore the major redevelopment project underway at The Hewett Academy in Norwich, and how our design team is helping to shape the site’s future whilst honouring its rich local heritage.

What’s the objective for the Hewett Academy project?

This is a significant project within the community of Norwich, with the Hewett Academy having a presence in the city since the 1950’s. With one of our offices being in Norwich, we have a number of people within our business who attended the school themselves, and who have fond memories of their experiences there as will so many people within the city.

The scope of the project itself includes refurbishment works to the locally listed central range building, with a two-storey extension either side to provide new teaching and sport accommodation. The existing pool building, used by the school and the local community, will also be refurbished. A collection of smaller life-expired buildings and vacant buildings have been demolished to improve the overall safety of the site.

This short animation helps to communicate the scope of the project to those with a vested interest in the school:

Why is this project such an important one?

School life, and the actual buildings themselves, can leave a lifelong impression on us all. This is certainly the case at the Hewett Academy, which has meant a great deal to generations of students and families, the local community, and of course staff who have helped shape the experience.

When you take a step back and look at its history, the Hewett Academy is the perfect example of ‘effective adaptation’.

This is a site with decades of civic importance. Much of that is thanks to Dr Walter Roy, a former refugee and visionary who led the school with values of inclusion, education for all, and a belief in the role of arts and culture in school life.

The current campus has clearly served its purpose well for many years, but many of the buildings no longer meet the requirements of a modern school.  With that being said, key features are being retained to preserve the school’s rich heritage, including the Walter Roy Theatre and the iconic clock tower, a cherished symbol of the school’s identity within Norwich.

What are the key design principles responding to the need to ensure the new buildings meet the requirements of a modern school?

The new design has been shaped through close collaboration with Principal Antony Little and the wider school community, and aims to respond to future needs with care and clarity.

Once complete, the new campus at the Hewett Academy will offer its students the best possible learning experience, in terms of both infrastructure and accessibility. An intuitive and efficient layout will help to promote clear wayfinding, as well as passive supervision and visual transparency for all users.

Upgraded sports facilities will not only benefit students but also expand community access outside school hours, reinforcing the academy’s civic role. A new visitor’s entrance is being added to facilitate this.

A fabric-first approach will deliver a contemporary, low-energy design across the site, maximising natural light, improving air quality, and supporting the ambition of achieving net zero operational emissions.

What are your own reflections on the project, and seeing such an important local facility enter into a new era?

With the demolition well underway, and as the new structures take shape, I’m mindful of what they replace and of the long legacy behind them. For me, the rebuild project is about carrying forward what has always mattered about Hewett, its people, its principles, and its place in Norwich. I know as a team we feel honoured to be a part of this project, and excited to see the design work come to life on site.