The completion of the new teaching hub at Stoke on Trent College’s Burslem campus marks an important milestone in the college’s wider estate transformation. Named the Centenary Building, it celebrates 100 years of Stoke-on-Trent, commemorated in 2025, and reflects both the city’s heritage and its future ambitions.

Designed as a considered extension to an existing four storey block, the building brings together new learning and staff spaces in a way that supports day-to-day teaching while strengthening connections across the campus. The Centenary Building officially launched on 3rd July, accompanied by a special digital exhibition marking both the project and the College’s valuable contribution to Stoke on Trent.

A site shaped by history

The Burslem campus sits within a landscape shaped by industry. Once part of the Sneyd Colliery network, the site has evolved over time from industrial use to parkland and education. Understanding this history helped shape an approach that respects the character of the area while supporting the campus’s future needs.

Rather than treating the site as a blank canvas, the design responds to existing levels, routes and buildings. Retaining familiar patterns of movement across campus and working with the site’s constraints helped embed the new building naturally within its surroundings.

Design development through collaboration

Throughout design development, several options were explored in close dialogue with the college. Each tested how best to balance cost, scale, daylight and connectivity, while ensuring the building would function effectively as part of a busy working campus.

The final arrangement comprises teaching spaces and staff facilities, along with a lightweight glazed link which connects the new building back to the existing block, improving internal movement while maintaining a clear distinction between old and new.

The completed scheme

Externally, the use of contrasting tones and carefully detailed glazing helps break down the overall scale and respond sensitively to neighbouring residential streets. Internally, spaces have been designed to be robust, practical and adaptable, supporting a range of teaching activities and allowing for future change as needs evolve.

Sustainability embedded from the start

Sustainability has informed the project from the outset rather than being added as an afterthought. A fabric-first approach helps reduce operational energy demand, while durable, low-maintenance and recyclable materials have been selected to support long-term use.

This thinking extends to material choices across the building, including the use of an ultra-low carbon brick for the plinth, which grounds the building visually while reducing embodied carbon compared to traditional alternatives. Elsewhere, green and biodiverse roof areas and new landscaping help support biodiversity across the campus, while the reuse of existing furniture and equipment reduces waste and retains familiarity for staff and students.

Together, these measures contribute to a building designed to perform well over time; environmentally, operationally and for the people who use it every day.

Looking ahead

More than a single new building, the project represents a considered investment in the future of the Burslem campus. By responding carefully to its history, strengthening campus connections and embedding sustainability throughout, the completed teaching hub provides a flexible, welcoming environment designed to support learning for years to come.

With the Centenary Building now open and showcasing its dedicated digital exhibition, it stands as both a celebration of Stoke-on-Trent’s past and a confident step towards its future.