Client: Wakefield College
Main Contractor: Waystone
Architect: SMC PLC/ Moss Architecture - Interiors Ltd
Engineer: Gifford
Steel Tonnage: 600 t (approx)
Wakefield College’s new Skills Xchange is a stunning example of innovative structural and architectural design providing a state of the art learning facility for the people of Wakefield and beyond. Located at Glasshoughton, Waystone’s highly successful regeneration project, and part funded by the Learning and Skills Council, the Skills Xchange will house the College’s provision in Construction, Motor Vehicle, Engineering, Hair and Beauty and some IT.
Working for Waystone, Robinson designed, detailed, fabricated and erected 600 tonnes of steel together with the composite PC unit floor in a total of 25 weeks with a 10 week site programme. The structure is a 3-storey braced frame using cellform and UB members with a composite floor. Additional features to meet the iconic and modern criteria of the building were also used, these included; Areas of full height glazing to the façade supported off CHS truss columns; external exposed “wishbone” columns; internal link bridges; feature bracing systems and a sophisticated glazed teardrop roof over the cental area.
Photographs by Wakefield College HND Photography student Harriet Evans http://www.harrietevans.co.uk/
For further images and details of both Wakefield College and the Skill Xchange please visit the College website at http://www.wakefield.ac.uk/
