ISG has been awarded a £34 million project at Richmond upon Thames College’s (RuTC) Twickenham campus – the first phase of a wider £80 million masterplan to transform facilities at the highly rated London HE institution. The scheme is the latest to be awarded via the influential Pagabo framework, which drives efficiencies and best value across public sector procurement.
Visualisation of RuTC’s new £33 million learning centre at its Twickenham Campus
ISG will build a new five-storey, concrete framed teaching block, extending to circa 161,000 sq ft of space. Constructed on a plot adjacent to the existing college buildings on campus, the state-of-the art learning environment will accommodate an enlarged intake of up to 3,000 students when it opens at the end of 2019.
Targeting a BREEAM excellent environmental performance rating, the new learning centre incorporates a full height atrium space, with internal wood cladding creating an impressive design aesthetic and playing a functional acoustic role in the building. Exposed concrete soffits and structural columns are a key design element, with rainscreen cladding and curtain walling to the structure’s façade.
The striking building will become the college’s focal point for technology enabled teaching courses, and incorporates a full range of high-specification and advanced learning environments. Facilities include TV studios, a 3D prototyping fabrication laboratory (FabLab) and a digital golf studio. The building also supports the college’s aim to foster greater collaboration between students, employers and the local community – with a range a business incubation spaces, a business lounge and community outreach facilities.
The arts and hospitality and leisure courses will also be delivered within the teaching space, and ISG will create a 160-seat theatre and an art gallery, which will enable local artists and photographers to exhibit their work at the college. A 60 cover Silver Service dining chef’s academy, with full commercial kitchen and a bookable restaurant space will also be created, alongside a spa and wellness centre.
Steven McGee, managing director for ISG’s Construction South business, commented: “The complexities of this project have ideally suited the Pagabo framework procurement route that was selected to bring this highly anticipated scheme to site. High-performing frameworks prove instrumental in fostering strong collaboration between project stakeholders, and our early engagement on the scheme has enabled us to interrogate the brief to drive efficiencies at every stage of the build process.
“This is a beacon project for RuTC, kickstarting the wider redevelopment of its entire campus site and a key win for the ISG business, further demonstrating our education credentials on high profile schemes.”
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