Requirement:

The Apollo Studio Academy is the first of its kind in Durham, and the innovative project called for an alternative spatial strategy to reflect the Academy’s curricula which offer new and exciting approaches to education through a mix of academic, vocational and project-based learning. The Academy, which serves 300 students, aged 14-18, is centred around a curriculum which has been developed in close consultation with local employers, and to reflect this, the Academy wanted the space to function less like a classroom and more like a professional working environment. 

Our solution:

• The Academy is housed in the a previously undeveloped wing of East Durham College's Peterlee Campus. The design, consisting of five learning studios, replaces the traditional classroom layout with a flexible, contemporary layout which has the feel of a ‘hub’ – a place for collaboration and the exchange of ideas – ideal for project-based learning. The main focus of the design is for open project learning area to be presented on arrival into the space. This area is adjacent to the new windows that are integrated into the existing façade. 

• A distinct reception area greets visitors to the Academy. Adjacent to this space is the administration function that is associated with the current schedule of accommodation and we have the principal’s office, staff base and interview room all in close proximity.

• The success of the space is down to the choice of furnishings along with the flexible architectural elements. The idea is to get as much transparency into the scheme so that there are not too many solid walls. Instead of walls, screens break up the open space. Coloured motifs applied in film to these screens provide an element of privacy, and the ‘cubist’ motif is an extension of the College’s branding, aiding visual wayfinding to the Academy through the College.

• For students and teachers, social interaction with peers is beneficial academically. Open-plan, informal learning areas provide individualised learning environments which also support collaborative activities, and their value lies in the way they encourage learning through dialogue, problem solving and information sharing. Seating and desks which can be easily adapted to suit both small groups and large was a significant part of the Interior Design strategy.

• We’ve provided a future-proofed design to accommodate technological change. The space is Wi-Fi enabled with power socket provision so that the Academy can be reconfigured if the curriculum changes over time.