McLaren Construction has secured a contract for a new academic building for Brighton College worth £9 million.
Designed by Hopkins Architects, the design is based on a similar building at Yale University. Providing five floors, of which 1 to 1.5 storeys will be partially hidden below ground, totalling 2600m2, McLaren will deliver a central hub for Maths, History, Economics and Politics, 20 new classrooms, a large experimental teaching facility with two recording spaces and adjoining control room built specifically for teaching public speaking and presentation skills to all of our pupils and a purpose-built centre for EAL (English as an Additional Language).
The development will not come without its challenges with the site being very constrained, situated in the middle of the existing live school campus, between the Grade 2 listed Great Hall and the Skidelsky Building, named after one of the school’s most eminent Old Boys, now Chairman of the College Governors, Lord Skidelsky.
The impressive façade will be clad in brick and traditional flint work and will be laid in traditional lime mortar to ensure visual continuity with the other buildings on the college grounds. The building will be capped by a series of undulating pitched zinc roofs.
David Murphy, Regional Managing Director McLaren Construction – South said: ‘’We are pleased to have been recognised as the contractor of choice for Brighton College’s brand new academic building that will provide it’s students with inspiring spaces and state-of-the-art facilities. Brighton College is a respected customer of McLaren’s and we hope to continue this established relationship long into the future. ’’
McLaren continue their strong relationship with Brighton College after the successful completion of the new house boarding facility back in 2013.
The academic building has been designed to achieve a BREEAM excellent rating and is due to finish in July 2017.