St Paul’s School Performance Centre

Location: London
Client: St Paul’s School
Contractor: Life Build
Completion: 2023

A new home for strength, speed and conditioning

St Paul’s School’s Performance Centre is a welcoming, high-performance strength and conditioning facility created to support training across the school community. Developed as a transformation of a dated sports hall and fencing salle (images above), the project has reimagined the space as a contemporary environment for focused coaching, personal progression and team-based sessions.

Arranged across two levels, the centre provides a cardio suite at first floor, where spin-style classes can be run using Wattbikes, with dedicated performance training below. A comprehensive resistance training area is paired with a turf and track zone designed for speed, agility and conditioning work.

Larger than most school fitness suites, the facility is set up to flex between day-to-day training and structured performance sessions, with common uses including sled training, sprint work, and functional conditioning circuits. The result is a purposeful, uplifting space that encourages consistent training habits and supports long-term athletic development.

The project was build by Life Build and Bidwells were project managers.

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Stephen Smith

Project Architect

Having previously worked on residential and educational buildings, Stephen has developed a specialist expertise in design for the disabled. He is particularly adept at dealing with complex and demanding large scale projects and working closely with contractors to ensure a comprehensive and timely flow of information.  He brings a composed and measured approach and does not let go until every detail is resolved – a marvellously safe pair of hands.

Another talented musician, he plays the clarinet and saxophone, enjoys baking and was also a member of Nottingham City Rowing Club.

Stephen Smith – Project Architect

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Helen Whateley

Associate

Having attended a lecture by one of our Directors, Helen asked to visit the office to find out more about us.  She made an amazing impression and was offered a job after spending the day with us.  Her many gifts include an incisive mind and a persuasive (see above) and tenacious nature, qualities which are invaluable in so many of our projects.

One of our sportier members of staff, Helen enjoys skiing, tennis and the terrifying game of lacrosse.  As well as being a ski-instructor in Canada, she was Lacrosse Captain at Bath and a Lacrosse Counsellor at Tripp Lake Camp, Maine USA – the latter job title supplying the proof, if proof were needed, that lacrosse is not a sport to be undertaken lightly.

Helen Whateley - Associate

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Richard Matthews

Director

Another home-grown Director, Rick has always been interested in the development of the practice’s IT systems and was responsible for championing its move into Revit 3D modelling before the rest of the world and Autodesk caught on.

He has extensive experience in the education sector (state and private) and takes a very methodical and logical approach to resolving the knottiest of design issues. He brings a highly developed technical awareness and keen design eye to the practice and the projects he runs.

Beyond the office, he enjoys classic cars and motorbikes (driving and fixing) and all forms of motorsport. He’s also trying to stay fit with a mixture of swimming, squash, paddle boarding and Ceroc dancing and regularly does a parkrun on a Saturday morning.

Richard Matthews - Director

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David Moore

Associate

David did his first stint with us in 1998 before setting off around the world with his future wife for an extended break. He returned to IID in 2007 after working in the hospital design sector for several years, bringing a wealth of technical and management skills which combine with a very responsive and supportive approach to running projects. His carefully reflective manner and skill at defusing complications or obstacles on site are invaluable.

He has three sons, is sports and cycling mad and a regular visitor to Brentford FC.

David Moore - Associate

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Gareth Box

Director

After a BA in English at Manchester, Gareth worked in advertising and teaching before retraining as an architect, having initially fought the family trend (father, mother and grandfather were all architects).

Gareth thrives on client collaboration and has experience of a range of school and community projects, often resulting in long-term building development plans. He takes the time to assess all the possibilities open to a client and helps you to rework and refine your ideas to reach the best decision for the school.  A broader background in the arts has given him the ability to step back and see the wider picture.

His passion is music, and he enjoys playing in a band when he gets the chance.

Gareth Box - Director

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David Brown

Director

David has been involved in IID since he was 15 years old, starting off by producing immaculate models for the practice. He joined IID full time in 2005 having completed his degree in furniture design and has since developed and directed our 3D capability in BIM.  This combined with his keen design eye brings a formidable combination to project work.

When time away from his two young daughters allows, he enjoys beating Simon at Fantasy Football.

David Brown - Director

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Anna Gillies

Associate

In addition to her role as Associate at IID, Anna is a tutor at the University of Westminster, assisting graduates in achieving their Part III qualification. This suits her interest in professional practice and law and an ability to communicate clearly and effectively. She takes a holistic approach to her projects and brings careful attention to every single detail, from first concepts through to construction and delivery of the furniture and interior design.

Anna is a keen cyclist and is a passionate gardener, loving all things green. This hobby extends to the IID studio where she cares for our greenery and is often nurturing a propagation project to expand our indoor collection.

Anna Gillies - Associate

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Anya Heath

Architectural Assistant

Anya completed her BArch and March at the University of Nottingham where she worked as a Design Studio Tutor to first year architecture students. Moving onto a Cambridge architectural practice, she worked on a range of projects including residential, educational, and listed buildings for Cambridge University. She brings a serene thoughtful approach to her work and has taken a particular interest in how buildings are used by IID’s clients and post occupancy evaluations.

Outside work Anya is a karate black belt and has taught children and adults of all ages. She also enjoys life drawing classes.

Anya Heath - Architectural Assistant

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Shadi Al-Begain

Architect & BIM Coordinator

Since joining the practice after completing his MArch, Shadi quickly established himself as a key figure in our digital design and technology strategy. Now qualified as an Architect, having achieved distinction in his Part 3 exams at Kingston University in 2025, he leads our BIM coordination.

Passionate about innovation, Shadi is focused on driving forward the practice’s adoption of cutting-edge digital tools, streamlining 3D design workflows to deliver better value and efficiency for both the studio and our clients. A natural collaborator and mentor, he actively supports colleagues across the practice, sharing his deep technical knowledge and helping to build confidence and capability within the team.

Shadi Al-Begain - Architectural Assistant

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Maria Iliopoulou

Architect

Maria brings considerable experience in working on residential and mixed-use developments including many extensions and conversions to existing buildings both in the UK and Greece.  Her precise and detailed approach to delicate planning situations led to success in several appeals and she is adept at dealing with statutory authorities.

Maria was a volunteer with the National Theatre of Rhodes Island and helped with the proposals for renovation.  She also enjoys architectural and still life drawing.

Maria Iliopoulou - Architectural Assistant

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Sarah Broadhurst

Architect

Sarah has joined us from Edinburgh where she worked predominantly in the residential sector running small scale projects from beginning to end – a baptism of fire for a young architectural assistant.  Her Master’s project looked at how to protect Orkney’s Neolithic monuments from the depredations of mass tourism using virtual reality and physical recreation of the sites at sea.  It was exhibited at the RSA New Contemporaries in 2020 at the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture in Edinburgh.

Sarah was a keen member of the Edinburgh Athletics Club, her main event being hammer throwing and competed in the Scottish Women’s Athletic League, National Senior Championships and the Scottish Hammer Grand Prix.

Sarah Broadhurst – Architectural Assistant

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Linda Avery

Practice Administrator

Linda joined us in September 2011 after taking a career break to bring up her children.  She previously worked for Shell International undertaking a range of roles in recruitment and marketing.

Linda has travelled widely and is a keen gardener. She is an avid supporter of, and taxi driver for, two extremely talented daughters who excel at cricket and kayaking and compete all over the country.  Her role with IID is Practice Administrator and PA to the Directors.

Linda Avery - Practice Administrator

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Kate Yaldren

Practice Manager

Kate is the Practice manager at IID Architects and is instrumental in assisting with the administration side of the practice.

She studied shoe design and millinery at Cordwainers College. On graduating, she worked in the contemporary contract furniture field, selecting and specifying products and assisting on the project management and installation side of the business. Kate now spends her time between two practices and joined IID Architects in March 2024.

Outside the office Kate enjoys museum visits and scouring vintage markets for mid-century treasures.

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Susan Matthews

Financial Manager

Susan joined IID in October 2012, overlapping with her predecessor before taking over as our Financial Manager in January 2013.  Her previous training and experience as a Ward Sister and Outpatient Department Manager in the NHS were perhaps an unlikely background for a financial role, but she has proven an impeccable organiser and manager of our cash flow.

Alongside bringing up her two girls, she is a talented violin and viola player and performs regularly with the Kingston Chamber Orchestra. She also paints with a local art group, has taken up Ceroc dancing and loves driving classic cars and scouring antiques fairs for hidden gems.

Susan Matthews - Financial Manager

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Nick Rich

Director

Nick has amassed a significant range of project experience in state and private sectors and remains calm and considered amid busy complex projects.  He can step back from the daily buzz and keep an eye on how everything will fit together, resulting in spaces that feel effortless and full of flow.  He makes sure the right questions are asked at the right time and will pull together reams of information into a coherent set of client instructions.

In his spare time, and when his two boys allow, he enjoys photography and cycling and can occasionally fit in a stage of the Tour de France.

Nick Rich - Director

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Bethany Scott

Architect

Bethany is an experienced Architect who trained at Northumbria University and Umeå School of Architecture, Sweden and joined IID in Fenruary 2024.

She brings a calm and considered approach to her work which is appreciated by her colleagues and clients. Her interests lie in social inclusion and helping the next generation of architects find their feet in the profession.

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Kate Yaldren

Practice Manager

Kate is the Practice manager at IID Architects and is instrumental in assisting with the administration side of the practice.

She studied shoe design and millinery at Cordwainers College. On graduating, she worked in the contemporary contract furniture field, selecting and specifying products and assisting on the project management and installation side of the business. Kate now spends her time between two practices and joined IID Architects in March 2024.

Outside the office Kate enjoys museum visits and scouring vintage markets for mid-century treasures.

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Ben Logsdon

Architectural Designer

Ben is a very capable architectural designer who trained in architecture and environmental engineering at University of the West of England.

He has a wonderfully refreshing approach to work, bringing a level of energy and scrutiny which benefits those he works with. He is also very practical and has an innate understanding of how things fit together and an advanced grasp of scale and proportion which is vital to so much of what we do.

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Charlie Devine

Architectural Designer

Charlie is a natural designer who seems to have architecture in his DNA, he trained in New Zealand and joined IID in February 2024.

He develops his thinking through sketches and is able to consider design problems from all angles, ensuring his work is technically achievable and aesthetically beautiful.

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