architecture:nw is now CoARC.
CoARC was formed from the merging of architecture:nw with fleming james architects.
CoARC provides a flexible and adaptable service to our clients through a collaborative approach.
CoARC is an RIBA Chartered Practice, and you can find out more here.
The new facilities were built to replace an old Victorian primary school that was being used as the sixth form study and social centre. The building takes many design cues from office buildings and uses these as well as a flexible floor plate arrangement to provide a transitional building for the students that reflects a business work place but still allows for teaching and learning for A levels. As well as ground floor social space there are many adaptable classrooms as well as some bespoke classrooms for ITC and media studies for instance. There is a vocational studies centre that is formed by the joining of three classroom modules and works like an open plan office space with groups of desks. The building arrangement is based on a grid of space that can form classrooms or be sub divisible into group rooms or offices, or joined together to form the larger spaces. A central corridor with service zones to each side also forms areas for breakout study enlivening the circulation space. Nick was project architect whilst at adp.
The building at Collingwood College, formally opened by the Countess of Wessex in January 2005, was featured in Architecture Today iss. 158 pg.85-89
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Photographs taken by Nick.