The Harris Academy needed additional dance and drama studios to meet the growing demand for these subjects. AAB architects carried out a feasibility study to consider options for location of these new spaces on the already developed site.

The preferred option was to demolish the single storey wing of the existing music block to allow for the construction of a new two storey building, attached to the music block and sharing a new entrance. The drama studio is located on the ground floor for ease of access, with the dance studio above with plentiful natural light from rooflights. The scheme required the re-routing of existing services prior to the main contract, to enable the music block to remain in use for as long as possible.

Materials include a reinforced concrete frame, for good thermal mass and acoustic separation, with piled foundations due to the confined site. A brickwork wall to the street elevation reads as a plinth to the lightweight metal cladding above.