Refurbishment work at the iconic Hull College School of Art & Design has now been completed giving the building a new lease of life.
Designed by Seven Architecture, the sensitive refurbishment of the 1970s block has incorporated re-roofing, re-glazing, internal upgrades, plus a series of hard and soft landscaping works to improve the public realm and enhance routes around the campus.
This £3million scheme is part of the College’s ambitious re-building plan to help to secure the future of the estate and for learners to have the best possible student experience. Energy improvements due to the thermal efficiencies of the new roof and windows will also assist in reducing operational costs for the College moving forward.
The refurbishment works, which were carried out by main contractor Sewell Construction, were carefully programmed over the 20-week construction duration to minimise disruption to the students.
The School is located partly within the Old Town Conservation Area with the ‘North Walls’ footpath running adjacent to the building which forms the line along which the 14th century fortification walls ran. This route has now become a key pedestrian link between the city centre, the Queens Gardens campus and the river side.
Simon Parker, director at Seven Architecture stated, “By upgrading the elevations and landscaping we’ve been able to create an attractive frontage to the School which now makes a positive contribution to the surrounding context and the character of the Conservation Area. Forming a logical approach to the internal layout has also made full use of the building’s assets and now offers greater flexibility for the College”.
Lucy Francis, director of Hull School of Art and Design, said: “We are moving into a new era for the School, with more emphasis on design and the creative industries; ensuring that our graduates form the next generation of innovators for our City. The new building refurbishment now offers a contemporary space for this work to begin and marks another chapter in the history of the School, which was founded in 1861. We regularly host exhibitions at Hull School of Art and Design so I would encourage visitors to come along to our next show to view the improvements to the building for themselves. Prospective students are also welcome to visit and to meet us and see the excellent opportunities on offer.”
Geoff Smith, project manager at Sewell Construction commented, ”Careful consideration had to be given at the planning stage regarding the aesthetic appearance of the building. This has become the new route for the Arctic Corsair and the Spurn Light Ship, so it was vital to ensure it was aesthetically pleasing. The building is well recognised in the Hull area and known as an education hub in the heart of the City so we’re proud to have been a part of its latest transformation.”
The Hull College Group is one of the largest further and higher education colleges in the country, offering over 1,000 courses to over 26,000 students every year.