South Cheshire College

“Our overriding aim is to create the finest education building in the country and deliver a flagship, purpose-designed college which matches the excellence in our provision. Hopefully the new build will be a huge boost for the local community and inspire our staff and students for many generations to come. This is the start of what promises to be a very exciting journey for South Cheshire College.”

Dr. David Collins, Principal, South Cheshire College

1
Client

South Cheshire College, Crewe

Project

College site design and build

Value

£55m / €73.8m

Model of the new South Cheshire College South Cheshire College South Cheshire College South Cheshire College South Cheshire College

Requirement:

Our client, the country's best performing FE college, was looking for an exciting, innovative new estate, a reflection of their innovative teaching, to embody a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

Our solution:

  • Our design for the new 26,500sq metre building is based on the concept of a village street, with departments functioning almost as shop fronts.
  • With an exciting glass and copper ‘skin', the ‘street' is covered but light and open, connected and creates a warm community space.
  • With beautiful views, we wanted to avoid building walls or visual obstructions, instead installing a moat as a means of ‘containing' the college site.
  • The moat also works to drain and clean water run off from concreted areas of the site such as the car park, again decreasing the college's impact on the environment.
  • Teaching, studying and ancillary accommodation all spins off from the main street and includes a hair and beauty salon, performing arts space, sports hall and social hub.
  • The curve of the building runs around a beautiful oak copse, one of the most significant features of the site's landscape, and still a centrepiece.