Heart of  Benenden

Designed by Guy Hollaway, an award-winning architect and Benenden parent, these aspirational and inspirational new facilities will enhance the experience of each and every one of our girls for generations.

Our girls congregate, praise, reflect, celebrate and share in a world-class School Hall. Our musicians learn, appreciate, collaborate, practise and perform in facilities with world-leading acoustics that are befitting of their talents and which enable them to reach their true potential.

Almost 80 years after it was built for a school of around 200 pupils, we had outgrown the old School Hall. Benenden needed a new Hall fit for today’s School and for the future, one that could fit our 550 girls plus staff in comfort.

Designed by the multi award-winning Guy Hollaway Architects, the new Centenary Hall offers state-of-the-art acoustics and gives girls and audiences a truly professional performance experience.

In addition, retractable seating provides the flexibility for the Hall to be used for a variety of events, while the bar area and catering facilities enable the facility to be hired out to maximise its benefit to the community.

Crucially, the Hall makes the most of its position in one of the most beautiful parts of the School site, and the new design will retain some tiered seating which had been such a treasured part of the old Hall for generations of Benenden girls.

The Sir David K.P. Li Music School features the smaller Bonnie Yeung-Tsang Recital Hall, with capacity for an audience of around 150 people, which offers girls more intimate performance space, perfect for rehearsals and smaller events such as Lunchtime Concerts. This is also the ideal environment in which girls can develop their confidence and skills in performing.

The Music School has more than 20 practice rooms and classrooms, as well as a smaller performance room, IT suite and both recording and performance booths. These facilities offer girls plenty of opportunity for practice and to explore their musical passions.

The Music School is linked to the School Hall by the Beethoven Bridge through the stunning Jat Atrium, which flows into the new Seniors’ Courtyard outside, a tranquil and beautiful space in which girls can relax and gather with friends.

To find out more please contact Kyle Johnson or call 01580 236742.