Mr Alec Reed, the Patron of the West London Academy had a particular interest in ensuring the quality of the lit environment the for school was carefully considered and implemented, and hence dpa was appointed to work as an advisor to Foster and Partners. Daylight plays an important role in ensuring the quality of the lit environment for a school is of the highest magnitude and Foster and Partners orchestrated the architecture to maximise the use of natural light whilst also creating interesting building forms between solid and transparent elements.

The artificial lighting was then devised to support the daylight when it was insufficient on its own and of course, to illuminate the volumes at night. Lighting equipment was carefully integrated into the building fabric to expose the various surfaces with carefully considered optics to smoothly wash walls and ceilings whilst adding punches of theatre in the break out spaces and double height bay windows.

dpa acted in an advisory role on this project with Buro Happold M& E Consultants who detailed the lighting scheme as well as inputting conceptual ideas in addition to Foster and Partners.