The next phase of Oaklands College's £62 million redevelopment has now begun, focussing on a new Construction Centre.
The work, being carried out at the college's St Albans campus on Hatfield Road, comprises of four stages.
Having already designed phase one 'The Homestead' and phase two 'The Evolution Centre', DLA Architecture are again at the helm.
The third stage will include a range of teaching classrooms, featuring IT rooms and "immersive AV teaching", along with versatile study spaces for students.
Chris Levett, director at DLA Architecture, said: “We are delighted to be able to start construction of The Construction Centre in this phased redevelopment of Oaklands College, due to completed in 2024.
"The centre is a critical part of the learning and teaching experience at St Albans Campus and, as such, our design approach sought to deliver an inviting building that acknowledges the college's agricultural history whilst at the same time providing highly modern, flexible spaces.
“The flexible environment will allow future generations of our construction industry to learn important skills including installing and maintaining renewable technologies.
"Students will be very much involved with the construction process of the building as part of their curriculum to understand modern methods applied in supporting energy conservation and SMART building technology.
“Indeed, the building will be an exemplar for sustainability with a high performing building envelope and low carbon systems.
"Our designs, using principles of the circular economy, support maximum flexibility for future adaptation with ease of maintenance, for students to benchmark their skillset.”
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DLA has been retained to design the fourth and final stage of Oaklands College's redevelopment of its St Albans Campus.
The fourth stage will see the creation of a college square, creating "a focal point for the transformed campus".
Construction on all four stages was given the green light in 2017, with the college aiming to complete works next year (2024).
DLA has previously completed the Esther Simpson Building, within Leeds University's business school.
Further information regarding the redevelopment can be found at www.oaklands.ac.uk
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