The Rausing Science Centre is a new four-storey science building for The King’s School, created within the historic grounds of Canterbury Cathedral – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Scheduled Ancient Monument. Built on the footprint of a former 1970s day house, the project brings modern science facilities to the school while working carefully within an exceptionally sensitive setting.
The building provides modern laboratories on the upper floors, with the ground floor designed as a flexible hall for lectures, assemblies and events for up to 120 people. This space can also be divided into smaller teaching rooms when needed. The structure is formed from an exposed reinforced-concrete frame, with timber rafters supporting the roof. Flat concrete slabs span between slender columns and core walls, creating open, adaptable floors. A deep beam at ground level supports the elevations over a larger basement footprint beneath, while a glazed link to the listed Parry Hall is designed to protect the older structure through careful detailing and controlled movement joints.
The basement was built using interlocking concrete piles, extending below the water table. To avoid disturbing untouched archaeology, the piling layout followed areas already affected by earlier buildings, and facilitated an extensive archaeological dig prior to starting the main works. Construction progressed in stages, using temporary supports to keep the excavation stable and safe.
Civil engineering work was planned around a single access route that had to stay open throughout the project. Existing sewers crossing the site were repaired and kept in use through temporary diversions during excavation. The new drainage system was installed within the piled walls, with precise boring and underpinning used to protect nearby structures. Sustainable drainage options were explored but not possible due to high groundwater and archaeological limits, so surface water was managed through controlled discharge to the existing system.
The project involved close collaboration with Historic England, the Cathedral Fabric Commission for England, the Cathedral’s Fabric Advisory Committee, local planners and the school community. Thirteen separate Scheduled Monument applications were submitted, and construction was completed in six carefully planned phases to keep the school running safely throughout.
The Rausing Science Centre shows how modern learning spaces can be created within a World Heritage Site through thoughtful, collaborative engineering.
