- Education, Retail & Hospitality
Highgate School – Dining Hall and Kitchen
Retro‑first upgrade to deliver fine dining and future‑ready catering facilities
The Highgate School Dining Hall project comprises the refurbishment and extension of an existing kitchen and dining hall at a prominent public school in North London. Works included an extension to the existing building, creation of a new refuse store, installation of an electric vehicle charging point, delivery of a commercial‑grade kitchen, and the addition of a new open covered veranda roof structure to the south elevation overlooking the playing fields.
Key facts
Client: Highgate School, Hollywell Building Services
Status: Complete
Location: London
Services provided:
- Architect
- Technical Delivery
About the project
With the existing kitchen approaching the end of its serviceable life, the School required an expanded and upgraded catering facility capable of supporting both daily school operations and externally hired events. A retrofit‑first approach formed a central part of the design strategy, aligning with London Plan principles and prioritising the reuse, adaptation, and enhancement of existing structures wherever possible.
The scope included extending the existing building footprint, providing new back‑of‑house amenities, and introducing a commercial kitchen designed to meet contemporary educational and event‑catering standards. Wilson Mason were responsible for overall design coordination, submission of the Building Control application, and the production of construction‑level drawings for the contractor.
Working closely with the Client Consulting Team to ensure design intent was maintained through delivery, Wilson Mason provided detailed design management, coordinating contractor queries, information releases, and reviewing subcontractor packages throughout the construction phase.
The new commercial kitchen primarily serves Highgate School students but has been designed with flexibility to support public and private events. The existing building was integrated with a new extension and rooftop plant room, unified through red cedar cladding that harmonises old and new elements. This intervention significantly enhanced the building’s appearance within its conservation‑area setting, revitalising a structure that may otherwise have been at risk of demolition.
A major technical challenge was the complex servicing required for the commercial kitchen. This involved constructing a new rooftop plant room above a 1960s brick structure and coordinating an intricate steel frame to support four new air‑handling units. To resolve spatial constraints and ensure accurate coordination, Wilson Mason translated the original 2D design intent into a fully modelled Revit environment, enabling precise planning within a tight, confined site.
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