New teaching spaces for Aston University

Work is beginning on site on new teaching spaces for Aston University, in their main academic building. The scheme is due for completion by the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year, with Overbury undertaking the construction works. In addition to a pair of lecture theatres the design creates collaborative learning spaces on the sixth floor.

G11 Final ImageAbove, the refurbishment of the ground floor G11 lecture room will create additional seating and enhanced lighting and AV systems.

MB653 Final ImageAbove, at sixth floor a new Harvard style lecture theatre will create a more intimate, engaging teaching experience with seating in the round.

Extension to Technology Park Bistro

Construction work begins this week on an extension to Coventry University’s Technology Park with an extension to the Conference Centre’s restaurant.  The completed project will provide 70 additional covers to the dining area and a first floor board room. The extension is due for completion later this year and is being constructed by Deeley Construction.

CUE Bistro Extension

Transforming Abingdon Campus

Work has been completed on the third phase of the refurbishment of buildings at Abingdon & Witney College’s campus. This package of works has transformed the refectory and created a new coffee shop with associated informal learning spaces.

A-WC Refectory 01

A-WC Refectory 02The project continues into the summer when the reception and learning centre will be refurbished to a similar high standard.

Abingdon Campus Master Plan – Next Phase

The practice are supporting a public consultation event on the 5th March to seek feedback from local residents on proposals for the next phase of Abingdon & Witney College’s redevelopment master plan.  Following hot on the heels of the College’s plans for its Witney campus the next phase will see the Abingdon campus refurbished with enhanced accommodation for LDD students and engineering, construction and science faculties.

AWC_D-Block_cam01-smaller

AWC_D-Block_cam02-smallerAbove, images of the re-cladding proposed for D-Block.

3028-Model-2013-12-12 LDD Hub - View 01 - SmallAbove, image of the proposed LDD Hub.

The event is arranged for Wednesday 5th March between 2 – 8pm in room D0.38 where representatives of Robothams and the College will be on hand to answer questions.

Next phase of Witney Campus Redevelopment

2960_(Court House Building)_View01b-smaller

2960_(Construction Skills Centre)_View01a-smaller

Continuing the success initiated by the practice’s 2010 design for Abingdon & Witney College’s Witney campus, a planning application has now been submitted for consent to construct the next phase. The proposals include a significant new building on Welch Way, a construction skills centre at the southern edge of the site and the refurbishment of the Holloway building to provide amongst other facilities, specialist accommodation for the College’s strong LDD / PMLD teaching. The project is being funded jointly by the College and the Skills Funding Agency.

East Midlands – Priority Schools

Robothams have been working with project manager’s Mace, acting as technical advisor (architectural) for a group of schools in the East Midlands to be procured under the Priority School Building Programme. The group includes four primary schools and one secondary school in Nottinghamshire and Leicester which are to be completely rebuilt as part of a batch of nine schools. Using the EFA’s baseline designs the commission has involved engaging with the individual schools, planning authorities and Sport England to establish viability before the projects are put to market later in February. The schools are due to be finished by 2016.

2.01.005 Primary Type 2 420 +26Above, a typical section through one of the EFA Baseline School designs.

 

Technical Advisor Appointment

Robothams have been appointed by Mace to provide technical advice on the East Midlands batch of the Priority Schools Building Programme, funded by the Education Funding Agency.  The practice will be looking specifically at 4 primary schools and 1 secondary school located across Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. The programme seeks to replace the poorest school building stock with new facilities which are both environmentally and educationally more successful.

The feasibility studies are due for completion in January 2014 with all the new schools to be complete and occupied by 2017.

Warwickshire College – Recladding Project

The external re-cladding and internal refurbishment of the largest building at Warwickshire College’s Leamington campus is well underway. The project will transform the appearance of the main teaching building and combined with a new entrance area will transform learner’s experience of the site.