‘State-of-the-art’ Greater Peterborough UTC Complete

Young people in Peterborough will have even more choices when it comes to schools next year, with the Greater Peterborough UTC (University Technical College) now completed.

The building will provide a world-class technical education at the Park Crescent campus in Peterborough. It will become home to around 100 students studying either Engineering or the Built Environment from September 2016.

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The plot of land adjacent to Peterborough Regional College, a main sponsor of the new school, has been transformed by architects LSI Architects and contractors Kier into a state-of-the art, scandi-style, three-storey building that will facilitate the best technical education for 14 year olds embarking on their GCSEs next year, and 16 year olds about to start A-Levels or further education.

Specialising in engineering and the built environment, Greater Peterborough UTC students will combine traditional GCSEs and A-levels with technical qualifications.

On opening the school will be kitted out with the latest engineering and construction tools and equipment and computer design software.

Phil Brown, the main employer sponsor Anglian Water’s Head of Learning and Development and Chair of Governors for the Greater Peterborough UTC, said: “At Anglian Water a third of our workforce will retire in the next decade and we want the best and brightest engineers and technicians from this area to leave school with the right skills and experience to join our business. This state-of-the-art building provides a fantastic environment in which to learn with the best facilities for young people who want technical qualifications in addition to traditional GCSEs and A-Levels.”

Rupert Kitchen, Partner at LSI, commented that “the technically rich project-based ‘learning through doing’ ethos is inherent in the design” adding that “workshop spaces are arranged based on their specialism with each workshop supported by a studio as well as designated learning bases.

The ground floor workshop is the more traditional engineering / construction area, and the centrally located open learning zone is dispersed vertically throughout the floors  providing a vibrant Learning Resource Centre for the UTC. Components and materials of Construction Engineering involved in the building’s realisation are showcased within the building for all to see, and the simple palette of materials reflects the aspiration of the college without defaulting to the appearance of a typical educational establishment.”

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image credit: Smith and Wallwork

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image credit: Smith and Wallwork