At the foot of the Clent Hills, the George Adam’s Centre for Research extends and reimagines existing red-brick barns, transforming them into a centre for postgraduate study, research, and community exchange.

Part of Sunfield Garden School and Children’s Home, the new Centre sustains a long-standing legacy of craft- and land-based education while providing a contemporary home for the Ruskin Mill Trust’s newly established master’s programme.

Working closely with Neal R Shipley & Co Ltd, our team at Banners Gate is supporting the architectural technical design and construction of the project, ensuring the vision is delivered with both creativity and care. The design infills and extends the barns with a refined combination of curtain walling and zinc cladding, crafting a welcoming and contemporary intervention that complements the historic fabric of the site.

Architectural Response: A Hall for Community and Celebration

The scheme establishes a dynamic and versatile facility that can:

• House a library, offices, and research spaces, enabling dedicated study and academic development.

• Provide a flexible presentation and seminar environment to encourage dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

• Open out into a café and social area, where hospitality and informal exchange enrich the learning experience.

Framed by generous glazing, the new spaces connect students and visitors to expansive views across the valley and its natural surroundings. Natural light, crafted materiality, and sensitivity to context ensure the building feels both contemporary and rooted in place – a setting for reflection, discovery, and growth.

With works well underway on site, the George Adam’s Centre is set to be completed, handed over, and in full use by September 2027 – a milestone that will mark the beginning of a new era of research, study, and community within the Ruskin Mill Trust

With thanks to Ruskin Mill Trust for the provided imagery