Now even the buildings are clever at City of Sunderland College

Submitted by on Mon, 12.05.08

An £8million North East sixth form centre has won a national design award.

 

Usworth Sixth Form Centre on Stephenson Road in Washington, part of City of Sunderland College, has scooped the top award at the Further Education Design Excellence Awards 2008.

The 900 pupil building opened in September 2006 and has been praised for its innovative design and environmentally friendly systems, including the use of natural daylight and ventilation in places that would normally rely on electricity - finishing as joint overall winners with Matthew Boulton College in Birmingham.

 

The Learning and Skills Council gave the awards in association with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) this month. Entries were judged on their innovation, sustainability, adaptability and `feel good factor'. Usworth Sixth Form Centre was singled out for its bold design and its focus on sustainability.

John Anderson, Head of Usworth Sixth Form, said: “I think our unique building and surroundings have a positive effect on all our students and staff.

 

“There are three distinct areas to accommodate student life: classrooms for formal learning, our Learning Resource Centre for individual guided learning, to the Atrium at the heart of building for socialising - everything from a quiet place to study, to a great common room for mixing with friends.”

 

Usworth Sixth Form Centre has a full-length glass roof light along the centre of the building. This maximises the amount of natural light that enters the communal spaces, as well as giving the building its characteristic feel of space.

The centre was designed by Dewjo'c Architects in Newcastle. Completed six weeks earlier then anticipated, the building received public funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) - who aim to improve skills and qualifications for young people and adults in England.

 

Dewjo'c Director, Steve Agar, said: “The building looks fantastic as well as being environmentally friendly. It's rewarding to know it benefits people of all ages in the local community.”

 

The awards ceremony took place at the RIBA & LSC Innovation by Design Conference. The event provided those leading capital projects with the opportunity to consider how the current investment will ensure high quality colleges for the future.

 

Speakers included Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State, Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education. He said: “I am hugely impressed by the innovation shown by the winning colleges, they have created state of the art, inspiring places that enable world-class learning and teaching. High quality facilities like these will increase participation, attainment and raise standards across the FE sector.”

 

Usworth Sixth Form is one of five bases of City of Sunderland College. The college has invested heavily in its infrastructure and learning facilities and offers modern lecture theatres, well-equipped learning centres and attractive student amenities.

 

City of Sunderland College is one of the largest colleges in the UK, with more than 850 staff based throughout its centres.