UTC Swindon has been nominated for three awards at the 2015 West of England Regional LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Building Excellence Awards.
They are Best Change of use of an Existing Building or Conversion, Best Public Service Building and Best Educational Building.
The state-of-the-art £10 million site is home to what Prime Minister David Cameron described as a “remarkable school.” Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for School Reform, called UTC Swindon “one of the best school buildings” he has ever seen.
The stunning architecture and high quality build, provided by Scott Brownrigg and BAM respectively, includes light-filled workshops and classrooms designed to imitate real life workplaces. The site also houses a lecture theatre and a hub area where students can generate ideas, socialise and inspire others.
As part of the original Great Western Rail works, the UTC Swindon site creates a link between the engineering history and the engineering future of the local area, with the Old School Building and the iconic Water Tower featuring prominently. Both structures, which are Grade II listed, were treated sympathetically, with the Water Tower being restored and brought back into educational use.
Angela Barker-Dench, Principal at UTC Swindon, said: “We’re proud of the incredible building we occupy at UTC Swindon. The site plays a big part in nurturing and inspiring our students. It’s a fantastic honour to be nominated three times at the 2015 West of England Regional LABC Building Excellence Awards.”
The 2015 West of England Regional LABC Building Excellence Awards celebrates all aspects of the construction industry across the region. As well as aesthetics, they recognise technical innovation, sustainability and high performance.
The winners will be announced on Friday 10 July 2015 at Bristol’s City Centre Marriott hotel. Winning any of the three awards will see UTC Swindon shortlisted for the LABC Grand Finals.
UTC Swindon opened its doors in September 2014. It caters for 600 students aged 14 to 19, providing courses for young people who aspire to a career in engineering. Students at the college can gain the skills necessary across all sectors of the engineering industries.
UTC Swindon is run by a trust sponsored by Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells and Oxford Brookes University. There are over 90 different industry partners involved with the University Technical College.
