Concordia

Concordia Winter 2021

News fromMerchant Taylors’ Prep New Reception Building

The latest addition to the Prep School campus is the school reception, which includes offices, meeting rooms and a medical centre. Named the Francis Terry building, in honour of the Prep School’s founder and in use today, it was formally opened in autumn 2021. The architect was Michael de Nobriga from Architecture PLB who was tasked with linking the new build to the existing East Barn. A glass walkway was a feature of the design and incorporates light and space as well as visual interest. Total Construction managed the build, which was delivered on time and on budget despite the constraints of Covid-19. Day by day, Prep pupils were able to watch the excavation of the site, the erection of the steel frame as below and the cladding process. The diggers and cranes were particularly popular. A number of fitters, carpenters, electricians and decorators then completed the internal works. The building is as impressive inside as out. The old school office (pictured below right), was inherited by the school on purchase of the original Moor Farm. It would have been a farm labourer’s cottage previously and it served as teacher accommodation in the 1980s and 1990s before conversion to office space. Former pupils and parents will remember it fondly, not least for the warm welcome.

The final acknowledgements and thanks are to the Heads for their vision, the governing body for financing the development, Ian Williams and his team for project management, Angela Egan who was on-site liaison at MTP, the many

trades that were involved and the office staff, past and present, who have helped to build and serve the Prep School.

Andrew Crook, Deputy Head MTP

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