Library and teaching block at Ipswich School

Library and teaching block at Ipswich School, built 1980 to 1982. It was designed by Birkin Haward of Johns, Slater and Haward of Ipswich, with Chris Gorniak as project architect and Sadler and Sons of Ipswich as builder. Stained glass was designed by John Piper and executed by Patrick Reyntiens with assistance from David Wasley.

The building is concrete-framed with infill of red and blue polychrome brickwork. The roof is of lattice beams with a metal deck covering. It comprises a rectangular-on-plan teaching block with an octagonal library at the east end. The building is carried on concrete pilotis with accommodation at first and second floor levels, while the open ground floor is used as a sheltered play area. The sole interruption on the ground floor is the entrance block to the library. The building is joined to the Fison Building (1966) on the west side and by a first-floor covered walkway to the Sherwood Building (1934) on the south.

The building's first-floor bays are defined by exposed concrete pilotis that rise through the structure to support the jettied second floor. On this floor the bays to the teaching block are delineated by expansion joints in the brickwork while the library block has no such vertical subdivision on this level. All windows, unless otherwise stated, are two-light casements with horizontal top and bottom lights and hardwood frames. First-floor windows are all oriels, with those to the north and south sides of the teaching block being canted, while second-floor windows sit flat across the brick walling.

The north and south faces of the teaching block are both of nine bays with identical design save for minor modifications to accommodate staircase and entrance bays. The first floor is accentuated by horizontal blue brick banding at floor, sill and lintel level and also at the mid-point of each window. On the second floor the banding is confined to floor and parapet level. To the north face there are eight window bays whilst the ninth bay at the east end accommodates a staircase. This bay, which extends down through the pilotis to the library entrance, is emphasised by a blue brick surround and contains two oculus windows with blue brick surrounds to the half-landings. An identical staircase bay projects from the westernmost bay of the south façade while the remaining bays on this side accommodate windows. The sole exception is the first floor of the ninth bay at the east end which contains wooden double doors and is linked by a covered walkway to the Sherwood Building to the south.

The library block at the east end projects beyond the building line of the teaching block with an octagonal plan. On the first floor there are triplets of two-light casements on the north and south sides while the east face has two single-light casements with top and bottom lights. At floor and lintel level there is horizontal blue brick banding while blue brick diamond pattern diaper work accentuates the east face and the angled corners. Fixed to the south-east corner is a clock donated in memory of Annabel Bolton (Old Ipswichian, 1982-1984) by her family. On the library's second floor, the north and south faces also have triplets of two-light casements while the angled corners have oculus windows with blue brick surrounds. The east face is patterned with two rows of blue brick diamond pattern diaper work set between horizontal banding. The banding runs round this floor at the level of the sills and lintels of the north and south side windows and also at their mid-point. Blue brick banding also occurs at floor and cornice level. The deep parapet is also patterned in blue brick.

On the ground floor, set beneath the first-floor waffle slab, is the main entrance block to the library. Its eastern half is comprised of a timber-framed glazed screen with central double doors. The rear section is of red brick with horizontal blue brick banding. A metal plaque to the left-hand side of the doorway reads: 'THIS BUILDING DESIGNED BY BIRKIN HAWARD OBE WITH STAINED GLASS / IN THE LIBRARY TO DESIGNS BY JOHN PIPER CH WAS ON 19TH MAY 1982 / OPENED BY SIR HUGH CASSON KCVO PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY / AND DEDICATED BY JOHN LORD BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE / GEOFFREY BARNARD / CHAIRMAN / OWEN JENKINS / BURSAR / JOHN BLATCHLY / HEADMASTER'.

The design of the library is planned around a central, double-height space with a two-storeyed gallery accommodating free-standing bookshelves and study areas on all sides. The gallery is constructed from timber and has an open-tread staircase providing access to the upper level. The central well is emphasised by a linear rooflight aligned on a north-south axis while four circular light wells provide additional natural light. Suspended from the wooden boarded ceiling are original pendant lights with cylindrical shades.

The roundels in the library's canted corners are decorated with stained glass designed by John Piper and executed by Patrick Reyntiens with assistance from David Wasley. Piper deployed the theme of the Green Man which also symbolises the four seasons, the four elements and the four ages of man. The north-east window, which is dedicated to Roger Cooper (1957-1980), a former pupil, denotes spring, youth and the element of fire; the south-east window, dedicated to Allan Leggett (1908-1987), Governor and benefactor of the school, symbolises summer, adulthood and air; the south-west window, which is dedicated to Patrick Bills (1961-1980), a former pupil who died in the Rocky Mountains, signifies autumn, maturity and the element of fire; and the north-west window represents winter, old age and water.

The teaching block has an east-west aligned corridor running along the south side of the range with six classrooms and an art room leading off it on the north side. The painted and plastered partition walls between the corridor and classrooms all have transom lights while the doors to each room are all set within two-light transom frames of which the second light is infilled with timber boarding. The classrooms all have skirting boards and dado rails of unpainted timber and suspended ceilings incorporating light fittings.

A first-floor covered walkway links the teaching block with the Sherwood Building to the south. Its lower section is of brick with horizontal blue brick banding while the upper section is glazed with a gabled roof.