STEAM ACADEMY, BRIDGEND COLLEGE, WALES 19
a gamble for the college,” says Baker, in the hope that the break out spaces would provide sufficiently for the curriculum.
Transparent transformation The pre-existing provision for STEM teaching was of a poor standard, characterised by “old workshops, leaky roofs, no insulation,” and were “spread” across different buildings. They were also “dark and dingy,” often windowless spaces, says Baker; “unless you went in, you wouldn’t be aware of any engineering activities.” There was a further, key aspect to creating open, welcoming and bright new spaces, compared with the previous offerings. That was to make them feel more inclusive, and less intimidating in the hope of attracting more female students into the engineering industry, and “dispel the dirty, male-dominated environments” that characterised the previous workshops, says Baker. The client’s drive to have a building with a strong, visible presence, included a transparency to enable visitors and students in classrooms to see what was going on in the workshops.” This also raised a “big challenge,” namely that in making all of the engineering facilities “open and visible,” the architects had to balance this against the
functional urge to close spaces off for fire and acoustics reasons. But in the end, the architects were determined to harness the benefits of good design to help inspire all of the college’s students, “and hopefully enjoy being in a great building.”
A collegiate aesthetic
The design is described by the architects as “sober, robust and confident,” and one which seeks to defer to its rural context, but also, the extensive landscape of mature trees surrounding it. Another example of a balance the architects were keen to strike was the overall ‘collegiate aesthetic’ they were aiming for, as well as the more self- explanatory ‘crisp detailing.’ Baker explains the ‘collegiate’ aspect as offering a sense of academia, without overdoing the formality, while also not being too patronisingly ‘young.’ He says: “It’s for young people, but we didn’t want it to be too playful, or childish. By the same token, it’s got to be formal, but not corporate.” Baker adds: “These are people who have put school behind them and are going into the adult world. It needed a certain level of maturity, but without looking like a building on a business park.”
The facades have generous areas of
glazing ‘where appropriate’ but also the necessary solar shading to mediate this.
ADF JUNE 2022
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
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