The Eton School Hall comprises the refurbishment and upgrade of a Grade II listed building to provide a world-class music performance and assembly space for Eton College. Built in 1908 as a War Memorial Hall, the building is central to the College’s life, hosting a range of events from assemblies and exams to musical performances. The works aimed to improve the Hall’s acoustics and performer and audience experience without compromising its important historic features.

Many of the Hall’s original materials were restored, retained, and re-used, including reinstated oak on the new movable floor, which allows the Hall to transition between flat-floor mode and raked seating. Improvements were made to the room acoustics with a new acoustic array suspended over the stage, plus increased absorption and acoustic reflectors to the Hall perimeter to better focus the sound upon the audience. New lighting and discreet environmental systems have also been installed.

The original fibrous plaster ceiling, which was nearing the end of its life and contained some asbestos as a legacy from historic insulation work, has been entirely replaced using moulds of the existing plaster that were scanned in 3D to preserve the original historic design.

The building’s original ventilation system was modernised and enhanced, incorporating low-level supply-air system delivered via a prefabricated timber plena, concealed behind existing wood panelling, which has been stiffened to address the existing acoustic reverberation during musical performance.

Alterations to the stage levels and choir stalls allowed for the sensitive reorganisation of the backstage area. A new platform lift allows performers to easily move between the stage and green room, while improved connectivity allows for more straightforward use of the basement for instrument storage. The Crush Hall and Austen Leigh Corridor have been restored, and new cloakrooms and toilet facilities provided at ground floor level.

The renewed building is now a highly successful recital hall while still providing the other functions required within a busy school environment.