Location; Grimsby
Completion Date; Ongoing
FRANKLIN COLLEGE ENTRANCE BUILDING
Following the successful delivery of The Bridge, ID Architecture were appointed to design the new entrance building at the front of the college campus. Following their ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rated status, student number applications had increased which necessitated additional teaching spaces. The only available space for the building was at the very front of the campus which offered the opportunity to review the entire frontage and the flow of students into the college. The new building will create a vibrant and welcoming threshold into the college with a generous concourse aligned with the recent development at The Bridge. The entrance from Chelmsford Avenue is framed by an extensive picture window above that will allow the college to use interchangeable graphics to create a striking presence on the street. Careful consideration has been given to the wider landscaping strategy resulting in the reorganisation of vehicular access giving a greater priority to pedestrians resulting in a new ‘arterial’ path that extends the entire frontage of the campus, reinforced by new tree planting and lighting columns. ‘Opening’ up the frontage will create a more welcoming entrance and a ‘facelift’ for the college.
Informed by other recent projects across the campus and to ensure a cohesive approach the material palette was directly informed by these and a combination of red facing brickwork and white render has been implemented. Feature brickwork detailing of vertical ribs along the facade is used as an architectural device to frame principal openings and to act as a ‘heavy plinth’ from which the render ‘lightly rests’.
Internally the building provides eight classrooms split across two floors, a new reception hub with office and meeting facilities culminating in a 160 seat state-of-the-art lecture theatre. These new facilities promise to improve pupils’ learning and college experience.
Careful consideration was given to the internal planning with the layout designed to address key issues such as acoustics and energy performance. Sited alongside Chelmsford Avenue the principal elevation faces south west and to reduce the potential for overheating, glazing has been limited – with the exception of the entrance glazing which has been set back beneath the picture window at first floor to create an overhang and offer shading from direct sunlight. The picture window itself is insulated and separated from the circulation corridor behind to prevent heat transmission into the building. The classrooms all face north east allowing daylight to permeate the spaces without overheating and these are each naturally ventilated with passive heat recovery systems in place as part of the wider heating and cooling strategy.
The circulation corridors at ground and first floor serving the classrooms run the length of the south-west façade which then act as an acoustic buffer between Chelmsford Avenue and the classrooms, benefitting their teaching environments. The corridors are framed by floor to ceiling windows at the end of each – reinforcing the desire line through the building.
The new lecture theatre is the first dedicated seated space in the college and will offer a brand new teaching style environment with state of the art presentation and recording facilities. The 160 seat theatre utilises automated retractable seating to offer flexibility for the college allowing the space to offer multi functionality for other uses such as an examination hall or performance space. Its location allows the college the option of renting the theatre out to the local community and businesses in a controlled manner that will not interfere with the functioning of the main campus whilst offering additional income generation for reinvestment.
ID Architecture was also appointed as interior designers for the entire building which included all material finishes, reception desk design and overall design strategy. The initial work and design principles established by the project at The Bridge have been implemented in the new facility including the oak slat acoustic panelling which becomes a prominent accent throughout – ensuring cohesion across the disparate buildings on the campus.
“The new classroom and auditorium building has been the largest investment in the campus in a several years, significantly changing the face of the college. The design has seamlessly considered and ensured the integration of the new building into the community in a sympathetic yet impactful way.”
Wendy Ellis – Principal, Franklin College
GALLERY
