International House

CLIENT

International House

OUR ROLE

Full Interior Design Services

CONSTRUCTION

£5 million

FACILITIES

New Entrance / Reception Area, Classrooms & One-to-One Suites, Admin Office, Space Breakout & Café / Deli Bar

13_International House, London_Image low res
09_International House, London_Image-2 low ress

Project Description

International House (IH), a non-profit making language school, invited CJCT to help co-locate their two existing buildings in Piccadilly into a single 1930’s property in a conservation area of Covent Garden. This was seen as a unique opportunity and as a catalyst for innovation and change,
Through site visits and consultation with the client, it became clear that more space was required. Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher worked with the Local Authority to win an “excellent” planning approval for the rebuilding of a small 4 storey wing and the infilling of the rear courtyard with a ‘glass box’ providing new teaching and student social spaces. This new block also gave an opportunity for a new entrance, a complete rebranding of the building and the addition of the much needed floor space. The modification achieved a 15% increase in net area and, through value engineering, the new scheme was realised within the original budget.
CJCT worked in close consultation with all IH staff to ensure the completed fit out responded to the flexible working and teaching scenarios of the school and a full buy-in of staff and pupils alike.
CJCT have subsequently been re-employed on 3 further occasions - first to design a further extension to the accommodation by breaking through into an adjacent building.  The new extension has allowed an increase in the receptions and student services spaces to reflect the increasing numbers of students, as well as creating 3 major new teaching spaces.
Subsequently, CJCT were asked to reconfigure the self-training suite and café to create a more flexible and dynamic space, reflecting the changing technology. Most recently, in 2015, International House has re-employed CJCT to deliver new exam spaces in a listed building on Shaftesbury Avenue.