York Handmade Praised For "Magnificent" Work At Highgate School

The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has played a pivotal role in the construction of a brand-new building for one of London’s leading independent schools.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, supplied 150,000 bricks for Highgate Junior School in north London.
The project has been shortlisted for a major prize in the prestigious Brick Awards, the Oscars of the brick industry.
The contract was worth £225,000.
David Armitage, chairman of York Handmade, one of the leading brick-makers in the UK, explained: “This was an absolutely fascinating commission, not least because the new Junior School building had to reflect its historic architectural context as well as being a first-class environment for learning.
“The brand new 4,320 sq m building is for 350 pupils aged seven to 11 years. Features include teaching spaces and a main school hall to replace an old library and teaching block, which were demolished as part of the project.
“The project also included extensive refurbishment and re-roofing works to Highgate Junior School’s Ingleholme Building, one of only a few remaining 19th century ‘villa’ houses in Highgate,” explained Mr Armitage.
“Whilst we will never forget our Yorkshire roots, and we continue to work extensively in the county, this commission underlines our growing presence in the capital.  Recent London projects include the Shard, London Bridge Place, Highbury Stadium and Carmelite House on the Victoria Embankment,” he said.
Bob Hayes of architects Architype, who designed the new Junior School, said: “The brickwork and stone were selected as the main cladding materials to reflect Highgate's historic context. The York Handmade bricks give a wonderful texture and softness to the brickwork.
“The same brick and stone specification has been used internally, in the common areas and the classrooms, both for their robust and tactile qualities and to create a cohesive theme through the external and internal elevational treatment. 
“York Handmade were able to manufacture 150,000 bricks and specials within the agreed timescales and within the agreed budget. The finished building reflects the quality of the bricks and the bricklaying and achieves the qualities that the challenging design and specification required,” said Mr Hayes.
York Handmade have also been short-listed in two categories for the York Press Business Awards, to be held at York Racecourse on Thursday November 17.