Royal Navy College construction forges ahead

Work is progressing at pace on the Royal Navy backed Portsmouth Technical College which will welcome its first students in September.

Construction of the three-storey building is being undertaken by BAM Construction, who are working with architectural partner, Stride Treglown, to develop the design. Hydrock is providing mechanical and electrical consultancy and the structural engineer is Ridge & Partners.

Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock has visited the site at the Trafalgar School campus, Hilsea, to view progress. The three-storey steel-frame has been erected and the pre-cast concrete floors are nearing completion, with the ground floor being poured and external cladding fitted, at the half-way point of construction.

With a 53-week build period, the college will be handed over in July 2017 and made ready for the new student intake. The building itself provides a high-quality, energy efficient learning environment, with Stride Treglown looking to create a building which feels more like a work-pace than a traditional school.

Extensive laboratories and specialist workshops are found throughout, along with standard classrooms. The spaces are varied in height and arranged around a light and airy triple height atrium, which serves as a ‘Learning Hub’ and allows dining, social, working and learning spaces to be connected.

With a bold design, and a clean, industrial aesthetic, the building makes a strong statement to what subjects are learnt within and works well with UTC branding of bright colours, crisp edges and clear expression that celebrates the functional elements.

Combining the talent and expertise of the RN, University of Portsmouth, Salterns Academy Trust and Portsmouth City Council, the UTC will place emphasis on teaching electrical and mechanical engineering, helping to develop the engineers of the future.

Working closely with the Royal Navy will give students real-life project-based, practical training improving pupils’ technical kills and preparing them for 21st century engineering.

Core GCSE subjects for 14 to 16 year-olds will also be studied along with a range of options including Level 3 engineering NVQs and A Levels for those over 16.

“It is incredibly rewarding to be seeing the progress on the building; it is really starting to take shape now,” said Lt Cdr Fiona Haynes, the project manager.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our intakes of sixth form and year 10 students next September ready to begin their pathways to a career in engineering.”

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