Architects designs on college campus expansion

Pick Everard has been appointed to design two buildings in a campus expansion and modernisation project for Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College in Leicester.

Architectural practice Pick Everard has been appointed to design two buildings in an £8million-plus campus expansion and modernisation project for Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College (QE) in Leicester.

The Leicester-based team will provide a full design service for a brand new building to house Visual and Performing arts and the department of Business Studies and Economics on the sixth-form college's campus and a refurbishment of the existing Science wing in a building contract worth over £6million.

A 624 sq metre 1960s building will be demolished to make way for the 2,700 sq metres new facility.

Work on the Science wing, also 2,700 sq metres, will involve updating an existing 1930s building, allowing not only for the modernisation of Science laboratories but also for the expansion of other departments and the provision of enhanced study facilities for students.

The whole project is being supported by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), which is providing 44% of the funding for the development, the remainder coming from college resources.

Pick Everard associate Brian Rule is heading the multi-disciplinary design team, which will include architects, mechanical, and electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, structural and civil engineers and planning supervision.

"We are delighted that our expertise in the educational sector has secured our involvement in this prestigious landmark project," he said.

"We are currently working on a new academy in Leicester and recently won the Leicestershire and Rutland Society of Architects 2006 Design Award for the statement building we designed for Stephenson College, near Coalville in Leicestershire, so we feel we are making a significant contribution to the educational facilities available to students in our home county".

Pick Everard won the contract in a competition with other architects.

Building work is expected to start on campus in January 2007 and it is hoped the new building will be ready for occupation by Easter 2008.

Completion of the refurbished science building will require careful planning as part of it will be in use while work goes on.

John Thawley of Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College said: "This is a very exciting project and represents a significant financial commitment on the part of the college".

"It will increase our potential intake of students from 1850 to 2050 and will provide a much more modern and suitable environment for our students to work in".

"Both the new building and the completely refurbished Science wing will provide staff and students with modern, spacious facilities and more flexible student study and social space".

Pick Everard has many years experience of designing buildings for the education sector and is currently working on a raft of projects including a PFI project for five new Derby schools, framework contracts with Suffolk County Council and Norfolk Property Services in the primary and secondary sectors, further education and master planning at Brooksby Melton College, West Suffolk College and Cambridge Regional College and at Keele, Nottingham and Warwick Universities.

The practice is also involved in the Government's 'Building Schools for the Future' programme.

Back to top