Gateway Sixth Form College
Architect - Nightingale Associates
Contractor - ISG Interior Exterior plc
Client - Gateway Sixth Form College
Completion - August 2009
Gateway Sixth Form College is a highly-sustainable new-build college campus in Leicester, designed to accommodate 1500 students. In line with the college’s aspirations for a sustainable environment, architects Nightingale Associates and Mechanical and Electrical designers Arup, designed a building that minimises carbon footprint. A number of affordable and innovative environmental solutions were integrated into the design, many of which are on display as part of the ‘visible sustainability’ concept, established to encourage students to take a proactive approach to environmental issues. Incorporating a triple-height atrium with all teaching, administration and ancillary accommodation located within ‘Pods’, the scheme achieves the successful implementation of green initiatives including natural ventilation, photovoltaic glass, sustainable draining and a wind turbine. Energy conservation and creation was one of the top priorities for the building, and its fabric was designed to exceed current statutory requirements wherever possible. As a result, the college has significantly reduced its carbon footprint; the building has a carbon footprint of less than half of a new build college and has an energy performance score (EPC) of 28, compared with 46 for a similar new building.
