West Lancashire College, Skelmersdale Building, NorthWest England Campus Design News

West Lancashire College Building

Skelmersdale and Ormskirk Further Education Development design by RMJM Architects

17 Dec 2008

Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College

New College Campus for West Lancashire

Address: College Way, Skelmersdale, Lancashire WN8 6DX

Contact West Lancashire College: 01695 52300

The Newcastle College Group has revealed its plans for a new £35 million campus for Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College in West Lancashire, designed by UK based international architects RMJM.

A vision for Skelmersdale was launched in 2005 by designer Wayne Hemingway and the new campus is a key part of the wider regeneration of the 1960’s new town, which is located between Liverpool and Manchester.

The 12,500m2 college, which merged with Newcastle College in August 2007, will provide state-of-the-art facilities for up to 4,000 students. This will include professional real-life working environments, from hairdressing salons to digital recording studios, which will also be available for community use, generating valuable revenue for the college.

RMJM Director Paul Rodgers said:

“Our proposals for Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College will provide a wholly sustainable campus at an environmental, social and economic level. The college will form a major component of the town’s renaissance and as well as its education function it will serve as a much needed social hub that can be enjoyed by students, staff and the local community.”

RMJM have completed five buildings for Newcastle College’s main campus in Newcastle; two of which have been recognised for their outstanding architecture by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

As with RMJM’s previous projects for the college, the design aims to challenge convention and continue to build on the college’s unique identity in a new location. At the heart of the college will be an atrium space, which will provide a multi-storey social and learning hub containing a variety of informal spaces for students to engage with the learning process outside of the traditional classroom.

Skelmersdale was designated a new town in 1961 but failed to attract the 80,000 population it was built to cater for. Today, English Partnerships is working alongside West Lancashire District Council and the local community to help drive the regeneration of Skelmersdale town centre.

Beverley Robinson, Principal of Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College said:

“We are delighted to be a part of the new town centre development – Skelmersdale Vision. Our new £35m campus will provide the local community with state-of-the-art education and training facilities fit for the 21st century. The prestigious new development represents a major investment that will enhance the learning experience of our students.”

Construction is due to start in March 2009 and the college is scheduled to open in September 2010.

West Lancashire College Campus architect : RMJM

Location: College Way, Skelmersdale, Lancashire WN8 6DX, Northwest England, UK