Sheppard Robson has received planning permission for a new build college and refurbishment of the Grade II listed Victorian clock tower at Bournemouth & Poole College’s Lansdowne Campus.

The design focuses on creating a public ‘plaza’ to the front of the college – beyond the plaza the main entrance offers clear views of the ‘mall’ (a triple height atrium space) and a series of double height spaces.

The remaining new build elements can be broadly sub-divided in to three main blocks – the central teaching facilities located within the ‘heart’ of the campus, the Service Industries Departments and the Learning and Resource  Centre  block. The student ‘study courtyard’, atrium and public restaurants sit between the Service Industries buildings, creating the potential for a large flexible space.

The new build provides contemporary facades adjacent to the listed buildings. The shading ‘veils’ on the front elevation refer to the fenestration proportions of the adjacent Clock Tower, while emphasising its verticality. The aluminium ‘hoods’ which drape over the main entrance blocks, differentiate the build elements. The other teaching blocks directly respond to their location on-site and relationship with the adjacent listed villas. 

Renza La Sala, project architect for the scheme, comments: “Gaining planning permission for this project was a massive boost for our education team. The existing listed buildings are fine examples of early Victorian design; therefore the new build proposal required a bold yet sympathetic approach that still maintained our core design principles of sustainability and innovation. ”  

The site sits within a Conservation Area, has numerous Tree Preservation Orders and is bound by main roads on three sides. The project will be predominantly funded by the Learning Skills Council (LSC) and is due to start on site in April 2009 with completion expected at the end of 2011.  

-ends-