Designed and built by Fords of Blythe Bridge, the award-winning independent learning centre at South Staffordshire College’s Rodbaston Campus is now providing essential educational facilities for students with complex learning needs and disabilities.
Futures@SSC is a state of the art educational facility providing, combining vocational learning with educational areas designed to promote independent living.
The design and build of the centre incorporates traditional and modern methods of construction to reflect both the rich agricultural heritage of the campus as well as its forward–looking vision.
Modern methods of construction used in the timber-framed design and aluminium standing-seam roof enabled the building to achieve superior levels of air-tightness and thermal performance, as well as achieving an EPC rating above that expected of a new build.
The modern design of the exterior of the building has seen the use of cedar cladding, painted render panels, powder coated aluminium, standing seam roof and gabion walling, which links it architecturally to other buildings around the Rodbaston Campus.
The building has inclusivity at the very core of its construction. Fully inclusive throughout, from the external hard landscaping to the internal layouts, Futures@SSC goes far beyond statutory requirements, with large open-plan learning spaces, full-height windows and folding partition doors to create welcoming and flexible learning spaces. The building also features areas designed to help aid and promote independent living, including a domestic kitchen and bathroom set-up, designed to equip students with important life skills.
The building has been named as the best inclusive building in the West Midlands in the 2016 LABC Excellence Awards.
Speaking on behalf of South Staffordshire College, Assistant Director of Capital Projects Julie Nash says “We’re over the moon that Futures@SSC has won this award, it’s a real testament to the quality of workmanship of Fords of Blythe Bridge and is a very proud moment for the project team here at South Staffordshire College. With inclusivity at its heart, Futures@SSC was designed to allow every learner realise their full potential in a safe and secure learning environment, the fact that the facility has now been recognised with this award is a fantastic reward for all those involved.”
