The Foundry transforms and extends the existing WHU Foundation facility, doubling its area to meet growing demand for community wellbeing and increasingly diverse needs in East London.

West Ham United Foundation works across East London and beyond to promote health and wellbeing through sport, tackle exclusion and poverty, and advance the education of children and young people. The Foundry project transformed and extended limited existing accommodation to create new community facilities, teaching and work spaces and a café. It brings to life the client’s vision for an inclusive welcoming and striking facility which would represent the ambitious, generous nature of their organisation.

The existing was a modest undistinguished 1980’s brick building that had outgrown demand. A new cross laminated timber extension doubles the size of the existing. It wraps two elevations, introducing an exterior canopy and entrance colonnade to create a reorganised accessible entry sequence and distinctive new character defined by strong signage and colour. A double height top lit space provides a generous entrance reception linking new with existing. Clear sightlines between spaces support accessibility and legibility. Education rooms overlook the training ground and the café opens out fully towards it to become the principal public space.

The existing building was reorganised and upgraded with accessible changing facilities, rooflights and internal glazing to office and meeting rooms. A painted external treatment ties the existing brickwork to the new fibre cement cladding of the new.

The new self-finished timber interior includes a structural exposed concrete staircase which gives direction and clarity to movement within the building and is complemented by bold colourful furniture elements, generous natural light and easy sightlines.

Adams & Sutherland were involved from project inception, working closely with the client towards their vision of a beacon facility to meet increasing demand and raise the Foundation’s profile. Over 8 years, we helped develop a brief, achieved planning permission, made the project visible to attract funding, and delivered the final project.

"In the central area is a small cafeteria that snugly fits into the busy world of the Foundation, encouraging us all to come and pay a visit to the heart of the building. The E6 has a constant buzz. The cafe area is both conducive to work and relaxation; a place to congregate, chat, and hold conferences. (Other) facilities are reached via a curved stairwell with large wide stairs, making it much easier to climb... once up there, you can look down and watch all the activities below, an incredible feeling of connection prevails, no one is isolated or shut away." - Mo Hankin, ‘Any Old Irons’ Building User, 2025 (Any Old Irons is a social inclusion programme to support older Hammers fans and tackle loneliness and isolation)