Ashton-under-Lyne 6th Form College, Geoff Higgins Learning Resource Centre

a-cube architects have assisted Ashton-under-Lyne College in their accommodation plans for five years extensively remodelling the campus. The new LRC and teaching block is the forth-new addition. The 1200 m2 building comprises of two storeys with one large LRC and 8 teaching rooms.

The external fabric is made up of patent glazing, copper cladding, engineering brick, render and composite cladding panels. Materials have been chosen for their longevity and durable properties, which influence future maintenance costs. The form of the building follows passive techniques for cooling, heating and ventilation. A main feature of the design are the timber air boxes in the Library space which take in cool air in the summer and extract the warm air from the building. The space also uses cross ventilation to cool the space. The roof overhangs over the air boxes to meet four feature steel columns that offer a dramatic appearance to the façade.