Planning permission for new Dyson STEAM Building
8 January 2020
North Norfolk District Council has granted planning permission for a new centre for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education at Gresham’s.
The Dyson Building has been made possible by a donation from Sir James Dyson, Founder of Dyson and former Gresham’s pupil. The donation is in recognition of Sir James’ ties with the School and is an acknowledgment of his gratitude to the School for giving him the financial support to continue his education following the untimely death of his father, Alec, who taught Classics at Gresham’s.
The building has been designed by Dyson’s architects Wilkinson Eyre, the first practice to achieve two consecutive wins of both the Lubetkin Prize and the Stirling Prize. Construction will be completed by Kier with other contractors working in partnership to deliver unique aspects of this state-of the-art building.
Construction will commence in Easter 2020 and the building will be completed by September 2021, in time for the start of the new academic year.
Douglas Robb, Gresham’s Headmaster, said: “The Dyson Building represents an aspiration jointly held by Sir James and Gresham’s School; that learning should be joined up and innovation encouraged.
“The granting of planning permission edges us closer to delivering a truly inspiring STEAM centre where technology, high-quality teaching and collaboration will be brought to the fore.
“The building also provides opportunities to expand the outreach programmes Gresham’s currently runs with local schools and community organisations.
“The positives and possibilities are endless, it’s a very exciting time in the history of the School and the benefits of this enormously generous gift will be far reaching.”
