The renovation of the original English College in Prague school building, built in 1889, next to the Vysočanská metro station on Sokolovská, is well underway. When completed, the building will retain the very best of its historic character while also providing a modern glass, concrete and steel extension. This exciting new addition to our facilities will house a wonderful new auditorium, a drama studio, 11 new classrooms and a vaulted atrium containing lots of ‘work pods’ where students will be able to relax and study between lessons. We will also have a fully equipped refectory so we can offer reasonably priced, locally cooked healthy meals.
The new facilities will enable the school to run more efficiently and, of course, strengthen our sense of community. Everyone is very excited about the project and feels the slight disruption during construction is a small price to pay for such a remarkable new building. We anticipate that we will move back into the renovated part of the original Sokolovská building in or shortly after September 2025, while retaining the old Špitálská annexe until the renovation is fully completed later that academic year. Then, for the first time, the ECP will have all our 400 students under the same roof.
Reconstruction Progress and Future Vision
The renovation of the main building began some 18 months ago. A significant amount of work, not to mention financial resources, has been devoted to restoring the building through a complex programme of reconstruction. The original wooden ceilings, having suffered from the ravages of time, have required extensive attention. However, the work is on schedule and construction of the new extension has also now started.
You can see how the reconstruction is going in this time-lapse video
Mgr Tomáš Portlík, Mayor of Prague 9, shared his enthusiasm, saying, “What is not yet shown on the visualisation is the ‘piazzetta’ between the Town Hall building and the English College, which should be re-created as a study and leisure space.”
Tapping the Stone
Recently, all the parties involved in the project including Mayor Portlík, representatives of the architects Med Pavlík Architects, the construction company PP 53, together with our school leadership team and Governors met to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone for the new extension while work on the reconstruction of the existing building continues at pace.
Doc Ing Zdeněk Tůma CSc, Deputy Chairman of Governors, and ECP Governors Katie Schoultz, JUDr Karel Kühnl and Jan Grozdanovič LLB, were among those present.
ECP’s Headmaster, Dr Nigel Brown, said, “We recently held the traditional ‘tapping of the stone’ ceremony to mark the laying of the foundations of the new extension that will ultimately house a second entrance to the school, 11 new classrooms, an auditorium, drama room and refectory, together with an attractive rooftop garden area. It has taken a long time and a lot of hard work to get to this stage, but everyone involved in the project is passionate about the work. We have been very impressed by both the quality of the design and the standard of workmanship that will create these improved new facilities for both students and staff at the English College to enjoy for many years to come.”