Further Education

Physical interaction in real time remains an irreplaceable part of the learning process

The post-16 skills system is tasked with providing young people with the opportunities they deserve and the skills they need for great jobs in new sectors. Improving the skills pipeline, levelling up productivity, and supporting people to work drives essential economic growth.

The government model for funded further education continually evolves to deliver a broad, well-sequenced curriculum. Teaching methods are increasingly flexible using a wide variety of online learning and more traditional classroom interaction. Attracting and retaining good attendance remains a priority, so the physical buildings on campus must be robust, fit-for-purpose, and inviting.

The number of further education students with learning difficulties is increasing, so we are continuing to strengthen our skills in the design of inclusive, accessible spaces. Our architectural response adapts to keep pace with new training systems, a wide variety of users’ needs, and increasingly sophisticated technology.

“The company provided superb support with an amazing
response time from day one, demonstrating an uncanny
ability to get things right the first time and immediately
embracing the College’s ethos and values.”

Acting Principal – Craven College

JOHN LEGGOTT COLLEGE

As part of the ongoing redevelopment of the Scunthorpe campus, we supported the design and delivery of this purpose-built space. It replaces a previous building to provide high-quality teaching spaces for 16-19-year-old students.

Key to our role was the detailed technical development of the concept design. We held extensive workshops with the end-users and specialist suppliers to achieve demanding acoustic and performance specifications. Accommodation includes a multi-purpose, flexible performance auditorium with a sprung floor and retractable seating for 140 people, and a separate fully air-conditioned dance studio with a sprung floor, full wall mirrors, a ballet barre and changing. The centre also offers a dedicated audio-visual control room; large rehearsal and music practice rooms; specialist double-skinned and sound-insulated recording studios and control room with specialist isolated floors, walls, and ceilings; music technology classrooms; ICT suites; and general teaching spaces. The College holds live music and theatre sessions for the public.

Through productive collaboration, the team met the short, strict programme to open for the new term.

CRAVEN COLLEGE – PEN-Y-GHENT BUILDING

Craven College’s Aireville campus is the main teaching hub for 16-18-year-old students developing the key specialisms needed to help drive local economic regeneration.

The new building replaces tired and temporary accommodation with 2,200sq.m. teaching spaces for Business Studies, IT, Tourism, Sciences and Special Needs, and a modern, flexible auditorium for exams and drama. Embedding up-to-date technology, it enriches the main programmes of study with practical enterprise skills, preparing students for entrepreneurship, innovation, and business creation. Equitable accessibility and support for students with learning difficulties and disabilities were central to the design proposals.

The exceptional development achieved a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, supporting the College’s environmental targets to reduce running costs and increase energy efficiency across the campus.

CRAVEN COLLEGE – RIBBLEHEAD BUILDING

We engaged with the end users to develop and refine a brief that maximised room utilisation within this purpose-built facility for teaching construction skills.

We designed the modern building as two distinct elements, to work in harmony with the landscape constraints of existing embankments and mature trees and complement surrounding campus buildings. With its industrial aesthetic, the functional layout of the monolithic main block uses simple, linear circulation to feed a series of large workshops, ancillary spaces, and essential storage. A lighter, glazed entrance space is sheltered from the prevailing winds and direct sunlight by nestling snugly into the landscape.

We helped reduce lifecycle costs by specifying energy-efficient, durable, and environmentally sustainable materials, equipment, furniture, and fittings that require minimal maintenance. The development achieved a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.

CRAVEN COLLEGE – WHERNSIDE BUILDING

The key design drivers for this internal refurbishment were to:

increase energy efficiency and reduce life cycle costs
create a popular student focal point

The existing construction contributed to large temperature fluctuations and a poor internal environment. To improve thermal efficiency and air tightness, we replaced the external envelope with double-glazed windows and insulated cladding panels. Internal blinds reduce solar gain, and new opening window lights and roof-mounted ventilators promote cross and stack ventilation. By significantly reducing energy demands, the project achieved a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.

At ground level, we created a new campus reception to centralise Student Services within a vibrant social zone around the relocated college shop. We also upgraded classrooms, offices, and toilets. Naturally lit by a new rooflight, an open-plan Learning Resource Centre hugs a new floor void on the top level. Visually connected to student services below, users enjoy a fresh, bright, comfortable environment.

PARK LANE COLLEGE

A Luminate Group college, Park Lane is one of several campuses the group oversee across the Leeds City Region. The 2 buildings at Park Lane were the subject of a detailed design and technical exercise to improve thermal efficiency, re-order and re-fresh the existing spaces to enhance the student experience, create an improved learning environment, and expand and enhance external amenities. Over-cladding and window replacement creates an enhanced appearance and significantly improves the thermal efficiency of the existing fabric. Fresh new catering provision, re-organisation of key circulation routes and upgrades to learning and amenity spaces positively enhance the overall experience of the buildings. The scheme was developed in sufficient detail for a planning application.