At BoonBrown, we have always believed Architecture is more than just buildings; it is about people. It is about creating spaces that support communities, inspire learning and improve everyday life. One of our most rewarding recent experiences took us far from our usual surroundings, to a small but determined community on a tropical island off the south coast of Sierra Leone, West Africa, called Sei.

We were invited to participate in an ongoing school project, thanks to Brendan Fisher, Principal Asset Manager and Chartered Surveyor. He approached us about contributing to a cause that really resonated with us and our younger team members at BoonBrown, who were particularly eager to take the initiative and lead the effort.

When we first got involved, the school was in a very early stage and consisted of two classrooms for around 50 students and two accommodation units for the teachers. The local builders had built the blockwork structure themselves, driven by an incredible passion to create a safe, inspiring place for their children to learn. However, the project was at a standstill, lacking a roof design that would be both affordable and appropriate for the tropical climate. That’s where we came in.

We got to work exploring different roof design ideas—pitched, mono-pitched, and flat roofs—each with practical solutions like rainwater harvesting to make the most of the region’s heavy rainfall. The idea was to collect and store rainwater in water butts, providing an essential resource in a place where water access can be challenging. Along the way, we shared our proposals with BoonBrown’s Directors and Associates, refining the designs through their insight and feedback.

In the end, we settled on a mono-pitched roof: simple, cost-effective, and easy to construct. We also included passive ventilation techniques to help keep the building cool, using high-level openings and shaded overhangs. Because the school did not have traditional doors or windows, we knew airflow, shade and weather protection were essential.

Beyond design, we also wanted to play a small part in helping the school get finished. That is when we came up with the idea of a fundraising walk. Our team at BoonBrown committed to walking, running, swimming or cycling the equivalent distance from our office to the school in Sierra Leone, 3,042 miles. Thanks to the incredible generosity of colleagues, friends, and supporters, we raised £1,250 to help fund the roof build. Every penny went directly toward transporting the materials to the island, the cost of the materials and labour, which helped bring the project one big step closer to completion.

As the build moved forward, we continued to offer support by creating sketches, technical drawings, and guidance for the team on site. It was a great example of remote collaboration, driven by a shared commitment to getting the job done.

In the end, the finished school took on a character of its own. The builders added their own creative touches including splashes of bright colours that inject energy and pride into the structure. While the final result didn’t follow our construction drawings exactly, we love that it reflects local creativity and ownership.

‘Quite simply, without BoonBrown and particularly Sydney, the Sei School project would not have been completed this year. They lent their expertise to the architecture, being sympathetic to the local conditions and quick to understand the needs of the local client. They worked with a very limited budget, suggesting innovative solutions to improve airflow and shading in a tropical location. They also engaged emotionally and lent their collective efforts to fundraising to get us over the line before the deadline of the six month rainy season, when construction becomes problematic. The completed school is now the largest and most waterproof building on the island. To all at BoonBrown, thank you so much, you’ve made a massive difference to a whole community.’ – Brendan Fisher

It’s incredibly humbling to see something you’ve helped design come to life on the other side of the world, especially when it’s shaped by so many hands, cultures and ideas along the way. This project is a celebration of community spirit, collaboration and the power of education. We feel proud and grateful to have played a part in it.

It was more than just a roof…

At BoonBrown, we see this as more than just a project; it’s a reminder of what architecture can do when it’s rooted in purpose. We are grateful for the opportunity to support this initiative, and we look forward to finding more ways to contribute our skills to meaningful projects like this in the future.

‘I am really happy for Sydney and the team for giving us a great design that they presented for our school. It’s really amazing and everyone is so happy for the wonderful works that they did, even another island wants to see a lot of their designs, and I hope that they will continue with the kind spirit that they have. I thank you again for the great job Sydney, you make the community feel you and they are all happy, I also thanks those that donated for us to make sure that our school should get finished and I hope we all should continue with the good relationship that we have.’ – Brima, Head Teacher of the School