Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College, Birmingham
- Client: Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College
- Principal designer: Nicholas Hare Architects
- Landscape architect: Camlin-Lonsdale
- Principal engineer: BDP
- Principal contractor: BAM Construction Midlands Ltd
- Contract value: £28 million
About the project
Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College (JCC) is a flexible new-build college, on a prominent inner-city site next to a busy roundabout.
Its students come from one of the most deprived areas of the country. The new college deliberately evokes the architecture of Oxford and Cambridge. The buildings surround courtyards, giving calm, protected spaces. A tree-lined entrance boulevard leads from the noisy street, and acts as access to the square court, a focus for social activities. The final space in the sequence is a semi-circular garden, enclosed by the academic areas.
The new buildings provide a rich learning environment. Natural light is maximised throughout. External, road-facing elevations are made from buff stock brick, while inner courtyard-facing walls are lighter, either fully glazed or rendered in white, to reflect light.
The college has also extended the range of facilities open to the local community.
The college principal said: ‘It has been a joy to watch the response of our students, speechless for once.’
Judges' comment
"This sixth-form college serving inner-city Birmingham has high-quality landscaped courtyards and a quality of construction to match."
