The Birmingham team behind the development of the new £70million Middlesbrough College campus is celebrating after the iconic project secured another award.

The scheme received a highly commended award at the RIBA LSC Further Education Design Awards, its third award in as many months. The annual RIBA LSC awards celebrate design excellence in the further education sector and entries were judged on their innovation, excellence, sustainability and adaptability.

Designed by Archial Architects’ Birmingham office, the quarter mile long building, which has transformed a former derelict dockyard site, now houses over 6,000 students and 1,000 staff who all relocated from four separate campuses spread across the town. The maritime-inspired design features a striking main five storey block representing the ‘hull’ of a ship with reflective multi-toned metal shingle cladding, and a two-storey ‘wave’ building with curved geometry walls to the rear.  

Robert Heckels of Archial Architects said: “It has taken a great deal of hard work from all those involved to complete the development, but it has proven to be well worth it when you witness the real contribution it has made to the transformation of the Middlehaven site, the single inclusive educational community it has created and the impact that the design has had on the skyline.”

The building incorporates a 156 seat theatre, a four-storey library, 14 engineering and construction workshops, six hair and beauty salons, a six-court sports hall, a restaurant and cafe, six recording studios, four drama and dance studios, two lecture theatres and six laboratories.