Urban Projects Bureau supports STEAM education with newly completed school building

The Urban Projects Bureau (UPB) has recently completed its second building at Graveney School in Tooting, London. The Observatory Block came from a long-term collaboration between the school and UPB. The UPB team recieved funding for a new 8-classroom teaching block in 2017, which after additional crowd-funding, later became the 10-classroom Observatory Block enjoyed by the school today.

The new building supports the school's STEAM program and encourages and facilitates learning surrounding space, time, and the universe. As such, the architecture's design guides users' gaze toward the sky. External walkways, terraces, and teaching spaces are held at each of the structure's three levels and habitable roof terraces allow for star-watching and other activities.

A cylindrical staircase leads building-goers from the lower level up to the roof. On the elevated journey upward, a chandelier hangs in the center of the spiral stair. Students can program the chandelier to represent various con...