Archial’s £23 Million South Bristol Skills Academy Campus Building Opens to Students on Time and Wit

The iconic, dynamic, yet highly functional, building for City of Bristol College forms a key landmark at the entrance to the new Hengrove Park development.

Martin Rogers, Director at Archial’s Birmingham office, said: "The primary aim of the design for this building was to provide a dramatic learning environment both internally and externally, whilst keeping all the facilities together under one roof.

"This state-of-the-art learning facility and working environment, using the latest technologies, was commissioned by City of Bristol College to drive up educational standards and provide the necessary skills, qualifications and improved employment opportunities for young people and adults in South Bristol."

The new building accommodates facilities for up to 2000 students within an area of approximately 11,600 sqm including, vocational training workshops, tailored for curriculum areas covering motor vehicles, hairdressing and beauty therapy, retail, construction trades, health and catering. General classrooms, ICT suites, staff working environments and the college administration facilities are also provided linked by the drama of the entrance atrium and the central winter garden.

Keith Elliott, Principal and Chief Executive of South Bristol Skills Academy, said: "This new facility will help us play the leading role in assisting young people and adults in South Bristol to gain the skills and qualifications they need to progress on to higher education and employment."

The new South Bristol Skills Academy campus building opened its doors for student enrolment last month.

Part of the privately held Ingenium Group, Archial is an international architectural specialist with public and private-sector clients. Its diverse portfolio includes work in corporate, education, government, healthcare, industrial, mixed-use, residential, retail and transport sectors and it employs approximately 300 employees in offices throughout England and Scotland. The award winning Archial organisation has been known for delivering intelligent solutions that combine creative excellence with commercial success.

ENDS
For further information please contact Martin Rogers T: +44 (0) 121 616 1448
Issued on behalf of Archial by Liquorice Media tel 0141 561 4018 www.liquorice-media.com
Date 27 October 2010

Notes to Editors

• Delivering global building solutions, the 900 employees of the privately held Ingenium Group of companies offer an extensive range of architectural, engineering, land use and development planning, interior design, project management, construction, design-build and partnership services through offices in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia. It has a broad and diverse portfolio of completed work within the commercial, government, transportation and lifestyle sectors, comprising some of the largest building projects in the world. The Ingenium Group member company brands include Archial, Alsop Sparch, NORR, Giffels, CION and Westpro. For more information: www.theingeniumgroup.com.