Education

Creating exceptional academic spaces for minds to flourish

Where you learn is as important as what you learn. Good educational buildings can transform a learning experience, stimulate minds and help students achieve their full potential. With experience gained from over one hundred school projects across the globe, Buro Happold can help you develop a design that delivers.

The ‘basics’ are always our starting point; high quality ventilation, daylight, and simple controls. From there we will work with you to meet the specific needs of each project, whether that is innovative, striking design, flexible building use, low carbon usage or low running costs. Wherever the campus, our global team can deliver a building that works within its environment.

Large numbers of people moving around in short periods can reduce teaching time and increase the risk of behavioural issues. Our specialist people flow modelling team can unlock these issues in new and existing buildings, ensuring students can move between lessons efficiently and pleasantly.

We understand that budgets are often tight, and we will work with you to deliver flexible, bespoke solutions that meet the needs and expectations of all stakeholders. Our projects cover all required building types, so we can bring in our expertise from other sectors to support specialist facilities such as sports, science, vocational studies, and performing arts.

Areas we work in

Higher education

Whether you’re modernising an existing building, or designing a brand new campus, Buro Happold’s higher education specialists can offer a range of consultancy and advisory services to improve student experience and profitability.

We’re actively engaged in topics such as student mental health, the future of funding, and accessible campus design. All backed by decades of experience delivering innovative projects for the world’s most respected universities.

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Schools and further education / K-12

It is vital that children get the best start in life. High quality education is essential in stimulating their minds and allowing them to achieve their full potential as they grow.

The best buildings can enable this, assisting with high achievement and attracting the teachers who can help to deliver a world class learning experience to their students.

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Services we offer


  • Feasibility and economic viability assessments
  • Masterplanning
  • Building design optioneering and collaboration with architects
  • Environmental and sustainability assessments
  • People flow projections and assessments
  • Inclusive design
  • Structural, civil and ground engineering
  • Building environment, MEP and facade engineering
  • Acoustics and lighting design
  • Transport and traffic consultancy
  • Fire, security and technology services
  • Project management
  • Post Occupancy Evaluation and operational advice