Queensway House, a disused office building on Stratford High Street, was transformed into a unique adult education centre, consolidating the charity’s education and legal support services. It serves as a community hub for lifelong learning, benefiting Mary Ward Centre staff, legal clients, students and the wider community. Approximately 65 per cent of the structure reused the existing concrete. The centre will serve 5,500 current students and future occupants, promoting education and support.

 

 

Who is on the project?

 

Architect – AWW
Structural engineer – SD Engineers
M&E consultant - Promode
QS - Promode
Project manager - Featherstones
Main contractor – Curo Construction

 

Describe the social and environmental context of this project and its neighbourhood and people. Who occupied the building and who uses it now?

 

The Mary Ward Settlement is a multi-service charity focused on supporting the efforts and achievements of people through adult education, access to welfare and social justice and community services. A deep retrofit of the disused office building, Queensway House, on Stratford High Street in east London, offered the charity an opportunity to consolidate their existing education and legal support services that were split over two sites, and to reflect and embrace the culture and needs of both the current 5,500 students and future occupants, as well as embracing the opportunity to connect with and provide positive transformative change in the locality. This unique Adult Education Centre acts as a community hub and haven for lifelong learning, whilst achieving significant sustainability credentials.

 

Describe the intervention you’ve made including its purpose and motivation. 

 

The reimagined facility is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and accessibility in an area where there is a need for an Adult Education Centre to support the community through the regeneration. By providing a welcoming and supportive environment, the centre promotes individual growth, collective empowerment, and social cohesion, mirroring the principles championed by Mary Ward herself. Inclusivity, access to all and creating a ‘friendly place to learn’ are the cornerstone of the Mary Ward Centre ethos. Guided by these core social values, the principles of a circular economy became central to the project brief, including the creative re-use of the building itself, engaging in a re-use network for the interior fit-out, and using the project to help Mary Ward grow and develop local, sustainable partnerships. The design promotes a positive human experience while minimising environmental impact, aligning with the imperative for sustainable and equitable urban development. Extensive material testing and intrusive investigations were conducted, to confirm the refurbishment and extension were achievable, approximately 65% of the overall structural strategy was to be formed of the existing concrete structure. 
 

How does this project make use of an existing structure, place or building in a creative way? Is it innovative? How will this project continue to evolve or enable future flexibility and adaptation? Have you considered its resilience? 

 

The building layout is arranged according to the needs of 4 distinct and interconnected groups: Mary Ward Centre staff; Legal Centre clients; Students; the wider community. The ground floor contains all of the public services, which includes a café and external terrace overlooking the rear sculpture yard. The entire staff and legal services are contained on the first floor which comprises office space for staff, as well as dedicated meeting and client consultation spaces for the legal centre. The top three storeys contain the Centre’s teaching facilities, with the top floor hosting the arts hub. Generous circulation areas, prominent from the high street form a key part of the programme. By providing a welcoming and supportive environment, the centre promotes individual growth, collective empowerment, and social cohesion, mirroring the principles championed by Mary Ward herself. Inclusivity, access to all and creating a ‘friendly place to learn’ are the cornerstone of the Mary Ward Centre ethos. With its flexible hours and outreach programs, The Mary Ward Centre ensures accessibility and inclusivity for all learners. Serving thousands of students annually and extending education beyond its walls to reach underserved communities reflects a dedication to meeting diverse educational needs fostering a sense of belonging for all.