In the London Borough of Waltham Forest, London-based Studio DERA has transformed a former school swimming pool into a sustainable multipurpose learning and well-being space for Waltham Forest College.
With an expanding student body, accommodating educational and extracurricular needs was a priority for the college. Studio DERA had previously delivered a sustainable materials workshop for students while building a hempcrete and timber community centre and nursery in nearby Higham Hill. Waltham Forest College Principal & CEO Janet Gardner invited Studio DERA directors Max Dewdney and Marcel Rahm to reimagine the disused pool site and undertake a feasibility study.
Design development and engagement process
The architects concluded that retrofitting the existing structure and using natural materials offered the most sustainable and efficient route to creating a new hub for students and staff. A RIBA Stage 2 Report (Concept Design) and a compelling design narrative that aligned with the college’s estate strategy resulted in a successful funding bid to the UK Department for Education.
Studio DERA’s work was shaped by consultations with educators, curriculum leaders, facilities managers, and students. Workshops and engagement sessions tested spatial strategies, technical requirements, and user priorities. These informed key aspects of the final design, including the subdivision of the Pool into zones, the use of biophilic and acoustic elements, and the inclusion of a stage and IT suite.
Delivery and adaptability
Balancing architectural ambition with operational need, Studio DERA collaborated with the college to coordinate infrastructure upgrades and support long-term adaptability and maintainability, including a new renewable energy system. The project was completed in 48 weeks, with the continuation of post-occupancy fine-tuning based on real-time user feedback.
Spatial organisation
The 994-square-metre Pool comprises five learning zones tailored to different teaching styles and group sizes. A raised stage at the former deep end provides a focal point for lectures, performances, and assemblies. Beneath it, an IT room makes use of the original pool depth to accommodate high-performance digital learning infrastructure.
Light and layout
Original high-level windows were cut down to external floor level to increase natural light. Integrated window seating was added along the former pool concourse, while fixed desks were installed around the perimeter of the old pool tank for study and small group work.
Adaptive reuse, thermal performance, and materials
The project’s biggest carbon saving came from adaptive reuse, with the original pool structure retained to avoid demolition and eliminate the need for new concrete and steel.
To meet Department for Education thermal performance standards, Studio DERA installed triple-glazed windows, insulated external and internal walls, and added new insulated pipework. Operational energy use is expected to decrease significantly with air source heat pumps, mixed-mode ventilation, and LED lighting with daylight and occupancy controls.
Material choices follow principles of low embodied carbon, durability, and circularity, and include FSC-certified timber, recycled acoustic panels, and low-VOC finishes. The timber interior joinery uses birch plywood for desks and the stage, and poplar for the window reveals.
Reflecting on the project, Max Dewdney said: “We wanted the Pool to be an inspiring, practical space that elevates student learning and staff functionality, and, above all, brings joy. We were keen to demonstrate what is architecturally possible in the education sector, which is so often under-funded and under-prioritised. Janet Gardner at Waltham Forest College was a visionary leader for the project — together with our contractors, we’ve delivered an ambitious, design-led, sustainable hub that puts the user experience front and centre.”
