Abingdon School ushers in a new era with the opening of new facilities

Abingdon School has opened a new, contemporarily designed dining pavilion, as
well as two newly renovated and extended day and boarding houses (the renovation
of a third will be complete by 2025). The projects sit within the wider context of the
school’s strategic development plan to provide sustainable, fit for purpose facilities
and focus on enhancing the ‘Abingdon experience’.
Sympathetically sitting within the school’s existing environment, Abingdon’s new
dining pavilion is dynamic and eye-catching. Adjoining the school’s 450 seat Amey
Theatre, it is set to become the very heart of school life. Intentionally designed to
have several different functions and thus maximise its useability, it houses a cafe, as
well as being used as a dining hall, event and function space.
The extension and renovation of Austin and Crescent Houses is no less impressive.
Externally, the extension has brought geographic cohesion to Abingdon’s school
community with each House now approached from within the school site. By
extension, access to the school’s many sports and recreational facilities has also
been made easier.
Internally, the accommodation is thoughtful and practical. Communal House rooms
and kitchen facilities are arranged to maximise student interaction, down-time and
conveniently host social events, whilst dedicated ‘quiet’ study areas provide a
purpose built space for students to concentrate on their academic work. Boarders
additionally have use of their own kitchenettes, contemporary designed shower and
wash room facilities, and spacious bedrooms with plenty of built in storage and a
capacity of between 2 and 3 students (or single rooms for sixth formers).
With environmental impact central to so much of what Abingdon does, each of the
new developments has been constructed, where practicable, using sustainable
materials, maximising insulation and using renewable sources of energy for heating
and lighting.
Mike Windsor, Head of Abingdon School, comments: “As Head of Abingdon, I am
inordinately proud of the quality of our provision – in everything from our academics
and extracurricular, to the facilities which are available to students, staff and our
wider community. The opening of our renovated boarding houses and state of the
art dining hall benefits all our stakeholders and I believe these facilities will
significantly enhance the Abingdon experience for many years to come.”