Decimetric® stainless steel sinktops, from GEC Anderson, are included within nine separate educational spaces to the newly renovated and highly impressive art building at the prestigious Stowe School in Buckingham.

Stowe House was created by Sir Richard Temple in 1676 and over the next century rebuilt into the great classical show house and remarkable landscaped gardens and parkland. In 1923, the house became a school and is now a co-educational independent boarding school for over 775 boys and girls aged 13-18 years.

As a consequence of the growing demand for art at Stowe School, and the need for the provision of art and design in one building on the existing site, a £2.5 million renovation and extension project took place. The project, designed by Rick Mather Architects and funded by Lord Sainsbury, transformed a tired 1930s building into a contemporary education space. The Art School now has a modern interior with plenty of extra space to offer facilities for a wide range of curriculum requirements ranging from Fine Art Drawing to Printmaking.

Decimetric® Classic stainless steel sinktops from GEC Anderson were specified by the architect in the Textile Room, Technician's Room, Office Kitchen, Printmaking Room, Dark Room and four Teaching areas for their practical use when using paint etc. They also were also considered by the school to be durable, easy to maintain yet also attractive and inspiring to students.

Sink tops of differing sizes were included to meet the individual requirements of the activities carried out. The flexible framework of sizes and options of the Decimetric® range made for easy and accurate specification and a quick turnaround of the order.

The sinktops, all made from professional grade stainless steel, included integral sink bowls and incorporated lipped edges to avoid spillage. The teaching rooms had extra-large sink bowls. Integral splashbacks were specified in certain areas.

To bring it up to standard, the building was externally insulated and both ends raised and a staircase put in together with a mezzanine floor to provide extra space. John Morris, Head of Estate Management said, “The original features such as windows have been kept in an effort to respect the existing form of the building.”