Richard Rose Central Academy

Four flexible learning spaces hug a central atrium; the heartspace, which opens onto the welcoming entrance piazza.

The atrium has the capacity to house a wide range of activities including music recitals, individual breakaway environments, lessons, lectures and presentations, and even whole academy events where a 1,500 student forum can be arranged across the three floors.

The academy specialisms are sports and science, with a strong business and enterprise culture. Each learning zone has its own identity and position within the building, and has been designed to support one to one mentoring, project based learning, lead lessons and whole house events.

Brief

  • provide a compact design solution to revitalise the urban site
  • create a robust and diverse learning environment with improved access, health and well-being, and leisure and sporting facilities

Results

  • a variety of diverse learning environments with a high level of flexibility
  • the arrangement of classroom clusters in the main learning block is an innovative pedagogical development

Facts

Location: Carlisle, UK
Client: Cumbria County Council
Construction cost: £31m
Completed: 2010

Integrated services

architecture, structural engineering, environmental engineering, landscape architecture, lighting, acoustics, sustainability

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