The first part of a £1.25 million project at Queen Elizabeth's Hospital - Bristol's oldest boys' school - has been completed with the opening of a new common room for sixth-formers. This is part of a state-of-the-art sixth form centre that will be worthy of the boys in the 21st century. The project, in Clifton, includes a three-storey extension to the school's grade II-listed main block. The construction of this will be completed in the next few weeks.

The common room, which is at the heart of the school, replaces an old washroom, showers and toilets used by the boarders. This has been completely redesigned and refurbished. It incorporates a brightly coloured cafe, a study area and a new office for the head of 6th. The works on site uncovered a hidden corridor linking this area with the upper classrooms within the school, which has now been utilized to provide an efficient link to the schools new ICT facilities, equipped with the latest computers and software.

GSS partner Mark Stevens explained: "We were delighted to be appointed by QEH, one of the leading independent schools in the South West, and we hope this is just the start of a long-term relationship which will see them transform their educational environment. In this design, we have created an exciting and modern addition which complements and enhances the existing historic building".

QEH was founded in 1586 in the tradition of Christ's Hospital, then a bluecoat school in London. Today it occupies the third site since its foundation, having moved to Brandon Hill in 1847. It is a thriving independent school, with a national reputation, and has 570 boys in the senior school. It recently announced the opening of a Junior School from September 2007.

Commenting on the plans the Headmaster, Mr Stephen Holliday said: "We are very excited about this project which is providing our Sixth Form with tremendous new facilities at the heart of the school. We might be one of Bristol's oldest schools but we constantly look to the future."