Peter Francis is the Project architect and also a KC Old Boy

The commemoration of the centenary of the founding of Kingston College has generated a number of initiatives at the North Street Campus.

One of the key projects has been the Upgrading of the Public side of the Campus, the North Street face of the school which has for many years been lacking in focus and attention.

The Campus is an amalgam of multiple properties which together house the upper school grades, facilities and administration. There are 3 entrances along the North Street frontage. Upgrading these three portals has been a major piece of this work. The fencing along the street has been critical to the improvement of the appearance of the frontage without sacrificing security.

Within the frontage, a number of projects have been carried out to enhance the space. These include the Walkway Legacy Project, spearheaded by a US based group of Old Boys who have funded and directed this piece of the project.

The frontage project sponsored by Reynold Scott, Chairman of The Kingston College Development Trust Fund, also included the improvement of traffic flow, parking and road surfaces, and the upgrading of landscaping.

The enhancement of the main entry portal has been the key focus of the frontage programme. This aims to provide a transition into the College which gives a visual lift and provides entry canopies which reflect the scale and character of the surrounding buildings.

This strong but carefully scaled architectural center piece provides a place for the school’s motto. The gates have been adjusted to ease vehicular access and heightened to improve security. The guard house has been upgraded and the entire entry has been refinished, landscaped and signage added. Upgrades to lighting are planned.

The other two entrances along North Street have also been upgraded.

The Douglas Forrest building frontage has been elevated, existing wrought iron fencing lifted and chain link and barbed wire removed here and along the entire North Street line.

The St. Augustine Chapel entry gates have been replaced and widened, and the Chapel Garden forecourt enhanced to be the centerpiece of the Legacy Walkway project. Here, the statue of Bishop Gibson has been made the focus of plaques placed to memorialize the first 49 students of the school, with the newly formed oval housing several other commemorative plaques to former students, set in the surrounding paving.

The oval has been landscaped as part of this programme which will expand towards the Chapel and all along the flagstaff garden to the west. The shaping of the oval and improvement to the Chapel gates has provided a well needed uplift to the west entry to St. Augustine.

The work to the central green has allowed for an increase in parking, improvement in the accessibility and usability of the flagstaff area and enhancement of the landscaping and appearance of the green.

Other improvements have flowed including repairs to water supply, sewerage, walking and driving surfaces.

The motivating theme for the upgrading has been Continuity of the architectural traditions present, and a Celebration and reviving of the oldest pieces of the past, fused with contemporary elements to uplift the spirit of those who cross the threshold into this great Jamaican place of learning.