The Changing Face of North Notts College

North Notts College is changing the frontage of the college on the Carlton Road side of the site with an investment of almost a million pounds. This project has been part funded by Sheffield City Region and is being managed by Moxon Project Management who will cover the entire project, from inception to completion.

Graham Adams, Director responsible for Estates said; “We’ve invested millions of pounds already to give students the best learning spaces and equipment.  We are now moving onto the external parts of our buildings which still need improvement.  It will contribute to improving the modernising how Worksop looks and help us reduce our heating bills and carbon emissions as well.  A truly transformational project which is reflective of how we wish to be seen as an organisation.”

Phil Sayles, Deputy Principal added; “Being able to show our business-like approach through our building is very important.  We work with over 1,000 local business on apprenticeships, training and higher level skills and our new look and new reception area will provide them, along with parents and our students, with a great welcome to the college.”

As North Notts College sits in a conservation area it hasn’t been a simple process and many aspects have had to be brought together to get this project off the ground.

“Despite significant challenges in terms of the complexity of old, new, live and redundant below ground services (gas, water, power, IT, drainage, telecoms,  the piling works are now  completed and procurement of the major elements (steel structure and terracotta cladding) are on programme.” said Simon Moxon, the Project Manager.

Simon also commented; “This project has a strong level of ambition which is reflected in the quality of the design and the materials used. Reflecting the old in the new and being in a conservation area it is essential to keep in keeping with the existing designs.  Our design engineer’s together with the council have worked rigorously to ensure the building is in keeping with its roots. It’s a very ambitious project and I feel award winning capabilities once completed.”

The college is part of the newly formed RNN Group, a merge of two colleges namely North Notts and  Rotherham College, both colleges retaining their existing names.

The project started on-site on 8th February and expected to be completed by 22 July 2016.

The project involves:

• Stripping off of the existing finishes to the north and south teaching and admin blocks, to be replaced with insulation and a board mounted render system.
• Replacement of all glazing to the Carlton Façade with double glazed, powder coated aluminium windows, doors, and glazed panels.
• Installation of mini-piled foundations and slender, intermittent steel columns to carry a structural steel frame immediately in front of the first floor of the façade, which will in turn support a rain-screen of three colours of Moeding Alphaton terracotta cladding.

The project also involves the refurbishment of internal spaces behind the façade, including improved lighting and renewed wall and floor finishes.

The central reception block will be wrapped in a board mounted render skin, with a band of the terracotta rain-screen as can be seen in the render.