Appointment to design the new Aston Students’ Union

Feb 10 2015

We have been appointed under Aston University consultant framework to design a scheme to refurbish the Viscom building in the northern part of the campus. The principal occupant will be Aston Students’ Union who are currently defining their requirements ahead of the design phase of the project.An image of the existing Viscom building before refurbishment

The project forms part of the University’s master plan illustrated on their website and will be adjacent to a new home for Aston Business School within AUE1.

Piling begins at Witney campus

Jan 23 2015

The appointed contractor, Bouygues have begun piling on the next phase of Abingdon & Witney College’s redevelopment of their Witney campus.

On a key site on Welch Way the new building will provide a range of spaces for teaching and exhibition which has allowed the removal of Weavers, a temporary block erected in 2008. In addition a new construction skills building will be erected at the southern end of the site adjacent to the refurbished Holloway building.

Robothams commissioned on Southam College study

Jan 16 2015

The practice has been commissioned to prepare a master plan study for Southam College to identify opportunities for the performing arts curriculum at the school. An ‘Outstanding’ state maintained school for 11 – 18 year olds it has 1440 students including a sixth form of 240 students. This project builds on a growing portfolio of similar arts based schemes for schools both in the private and public sectors.

Above, cross section through the new performance space for Rendcomb College

Housman Hall project completes on site

Jan 12 2015

The refurbishment of the former home of A E Housman has been completed on site and is a further addition to Bromsgrove School’s portfolio of boarding houses.

It was intended to replace the existing outmoded boarding accommodation on a phased basis, with pupil numbers being maintained at all times. The new boarding houses are designed to be vernacular in form to fit into the conservation area with contemporary interventions limited to double height structural glazed entrance foyers.

Within the existing listed building the proposals have returned the rooms to their original form and reinserting the Georgian architecture combined with expanding the existing dining area to permit all students at the sixth form campus to sit together for meals.

The proposals preserve and enhance the character of Housman Hall by removing the unsympathetic extensions replacing them with a more appropriate development, retaining the existing listed building and enhancing the buildings mature leafy surroundings. The core philosophy of the site plan was to extend the landscape foil, removing car parking and built form from the centre of the site and relocating it to the perimeter, providing a landscaped setting for the listed building to breathe.

Coventry University London Campus – next phase begins

Jan 08 2015

The fourth phase has just started on site of Coventry University’s London campus. Following refurbishment work completed in the Autumn of 2014, this latest section of work will consolidate the University’s facilities at East India House including the refurbishment of the entrance area and the management suites. The construction work is being undertaken by Overbury and is due for completion in March.

Warwickshire College’s Leamington Atrium officially opens

Dec 05 2014

The fourth of December saw the opening of Warwickshire College’s new entrance by business leader, Justin King CBE. It was the celebration of years of hard work by the project team who had collaborated to create a stunning new entrance space.

Above, a few pictures of the event and the building courtesy of Chris Ballantine

Appointment on EBN2 Free School

Nov 13 2014

Robothams have been commissioned to work with Thomas Vale Construction and the East Birmingham Network on a proposal to provide an Alternative Provision school in the Erdington area of Birmingham. The scheme is currently the subject of a public consultation exercise being held in local schools and community centres to engage with local people, with an aspiration to open the school in 2015.

Existing site image

Concept image of proposal

Vitual tour of Woodcock Doug Ellis Sports Centre launched

Sep 23 2014

A Google tool has been used to map the inside of Aston University’s Doug Ellis Sports Centre. The tour allows users to view the various facilities on offer including the fabulous listed swimming pool space. The tour can be reached by clicking on VIRTUAL TOUR.

Extension to the Sidney Stringer Academy completed

Aug 15 2014

Work has been completed in the last few of weeks on the extension to Sidney Stringer Academy’s EIC building. The three storey extension provides additional general teaching rooms with a flexible second floor space capable of use as a conference facility for the school and the wider community. Working closely with the contractor, Kier our team have designed the extension to blend seamlessly with the original RIBA Award winning building completed in 2011 by the practice. The project has been delivered using the SCAPE framework, and will open for the start of the new academic year in September.

Weavers Building Dismantled at Witney Campus

Aug 15 2014

The temporary teaching building erected in 2008 called Weavers building has been dismantled and removed from the site to make way for the next phase of the redevelopment of the campus. The College have made a time lapse video of it’s removal.