BSF Sheffield - Yewlands Technology College

The nature of the site and arrangement of the existing buildings dictated a linear design to the new teaching block at Yewlands Technology College. The main entrance takes you into a reception area and through to a double height atrium space with the main street separating Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the scheme.

The Learning Resource Centre is located in this area and creates a busy creative hub to the school, focusing on learning and development. The central circulation spine runs the other side of the LRC at both levels with a bridge link to the music and drama departments at first floor.

The interior design philosophy was to create a clean clutter free environment by using dark floor colours, a neutral base to the walls and feature wall colours to identify zones and departments. Large voids in the floor create visual links between ground and first floor along the circulation spine with views through to the barrel vaulted roof providing diffused natural daylight to the circulation breakout spaces.

Classrooms have a neutral base to the walls and floor, allowing the students work to be displayed, fixed storage and IT zones provide colour and identity to each classroom, positioned to allow for future adaptability. Sliding folding partitions in teaching departments allow classrooms to be opened out for large group work and seminars, these also open onto the circulation to provided teaching flexibility.