LSI Architects has revealed the design images of the new £9m teaching centre, Jubilee 3, at Easton College in Norfolk. Designed by the London and Norwich based architectural practice, the Jubilee 3 Centre, embraces pioneering ‘green’ technology, making the scheme one of the most advanced buildings of its type in the region. The building, which is now under construction, will become part of a complex with the existing Jubilee 1 and 2 buildings, also designed by LSI Architects, around a central garden court. It will provide two new laboratories, teaching rooms, a lecture theatre to seat 66, a café, social areas and flexible learning space for the students.

Principal of Easton College, David Lawrence, said: “The centre will be making a strong architectural statement. It will be addressing environmental issues and giving us invaluable extra space to meet the demands of increasing numbers of students. It is the biggest element of a £21million improvement scheme being carried out at the college to attract students from across the East of England and give them the skills being demanded by agriculture and other land-based industry.”

Mr Lawrence continued: “Farming has a vital role in securing our food supply in the years ahead and the East of England is perfectly placed to do that. However, there is a shortage of the sort of talent that employers are seeking and everything we are doing here is designed to tackle that. Our challenge is to get that positive message out to potential students from across the region and equip them with the skills and qualifications that are needed.”

David Thompson, the Principal in charge of the project at LSI, commented: “The new teaching centre is a highly sustainable building. It will have a sedum roof, and the entirely-glazed south-facing wall will be protected by a brise-soleil consisting of vines and other creepers. The centre will have ground source heating and will be naturally ventilated. The building will not only benefit horticultural classes at the college but also those who can study the building as part of a new foundation degree course in sustainable engineering at the college.”

The developments reflect the college’s partnership with the University of East Anglia to provide higher education courses on all of its specialist subjects – including agriculture, horticulture, animal management and equine studies.

Jubilee 3 will be ready for the new intake of students in summer 2010.

More than 3,400 students passed through the college last year, 900 of them full-timers and 2,500 part-time. Another 110 were involved in higher education courses.

The Project Team

Client: Easton College, Easton, Norfolk

Architects: LSI Architects

Project Managers: Gardiner & Theobald

Main Contractor: RG Carter Ltd

Quantity Surveyors: Davis Langdon

Structural Engineers: Faber Maunsell and Bidwells

Mechanical & Electrical Engineers: Mott Macdonald

Building Control: CNC

Email: carri@carismacommunications.co.uk