This Construction Centre is the newest in the UK for teaching construction trades and was built to improve the student experience and enhance the quality of training and skills available with a purpose-built design. The centre includes practical learning workshops for plumbing, electrical, and renewable installation trades, a construction lab, a VR learning suite, and IT classrooms focussing on a “raw” design providing an opportunity for students to learn directly from the building itself, with services and other elements exposed.
The scope included a 3,100sqm two-storey steel framed teaching block, including other construction areas including workshops, staff spaces, breakout and teaching spaces.
The project concludes the 4th phase of a major redevelopment of the College’s estate which sought to remove old buildings which were in poor condition, were inefficient, and were no longer fit-for-purpose, and replace them with state-of-the-art learning facilities to inspire the next generation as they develop skills and knowledge needed to move into Higher Education, or straight into employment.
As well as focussing on the learning experiences, the building was designed to consider highly sustainable outcomes throughout all stages of the process.
Three Winning Facts:
- This new facility has provided an exceptional purpose-built learning space for generations to come to support with the skills shortage within the industry
- The design during preconstruction planned to exceed the RIBA 2025 target for upfront embodied carbon achieving 419kgCO2/m2. As well as this the design focussed on a number of sustainable aspects including higher rates of insulation than standard building regulations, renewable energy used for heating and power, solar PV panels and more.
- The Construction Centre project has been an opportunity to showcase the great work that the industry does, with elements of structural, building and services exposed and on display as a source of insight and inspiration for the students at the college.
