The new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) building, promoting Digital Technology and Learning, will provide the college with specialist, state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities in line with modern standards. The new building will also provide facilities for the new food hospitality training courses the college will look to offer on completion.
At ground floor, the accommodation is split between the new culinary kitchens with large open-plan restaurant and bar, set alongside the large, flexible student social and study space which can also be linked to the restaurant for events. At first floor, the main feature stair arrives into an innovative and collaborative teaching area, with the remaining teaching accommodation on the floor made up of more traditional ‘classrooms’.
The overall architectural and compositional intent of both the building and the landscaping is to enhance the quality of the college frontage onto Masshouse Lane. In addition to the new restaurant facilities and lettable event space within the new STEM building, the college is also extending out-of-hours use to the playing fields and sports hall for community and public use.