Corde brings together the expertise of the three design disciplines to maximise the benefits of BIM. The use of BIM for this design has enabled the design development process to be streamlined, assisting the coordination process for this complex building. The 3D modelling has also helped with the resolution of intricate services distribution issues generated by the different functions and layouts at each floor level. 

The community centre has been designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and the Code for Sustainable Homes level 4. The flexible building design has natural daylighting and ventilation, thermally efficient building fabric, and materials with low embodied energy. 

The design was developed in close consultation with developers of the neighbouring sites throughout the briefing process, and design and construction stages. This ensured the services provided within the building would complement the neighbouring facilities and that the building would integrate successfully into its surroundings. The building is due to open in 2017. 

The Buckingham Opportunity Centre saw the refurbishment of a Victorian school house to provide five large activity rooms where users can learn and be active in various tasks and creative pursuits. The new scheme provides additional sensory and clinical rooms using a ‘pod’ design to make the most of the large spaces and high ceilings. The design incorporates a new reception area and provides accessible and secure external spaces, including a riverside garden. 

This is the second opportunities centre design by ADP for Buckinghamshire County Council. We also recently completed the third centre for the council, the Chesham Opportunities Centre. This new two storey scheme located on steep site in Chesham makes the most of the topography, offering views across the valley from each of the fully glazed activity rooms and secure adjoining external terraces. 

Councillor Patricia Birchley said: "With Aylesbury Opportunities Centre opening last year, this is the second centre as part of our day opportunities programme, which is providing newly-built or refurbished centres across Buckinghamshire, so that older people and adults with learning disabilities and autism can enjoy a wonderful environment, offering inspiring opportunities that can really make a difference to their daily lives."     

The image above shows the Juliet Ratnage School of Performing Arts dancing at the opening day. The school had a long previous connection with the centre before its refurbishment and now holds a class in the newly-refurbished building.

Over the next three years ADP will be developing the plans to assist the University in achieving its ambitions to create a “green” low carbon campus, increase its research work and student numbers, and to become internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in the Mediterranean region.

The Civic Trust Awards scheme was established in 1959 to recognise the very best in architecture, design, planning, landscape and public art. Awards are given to projects of the highest quality design, but only if they are judged to have made a positive cultural, social or economic contribution to the local community. 

The Forum development is a three-way client share between Southend Borough Council, the University of Essex and South Essex College, who have jointly funded the £27m project. Set within a new public square, the three storey building provides a shared academic and municipal library, teaching and research facilities for the College and University, a café, offices and the Focal Point Gallery. The Forum is one of several major sustainable regeneration projects in Southend-on-Sea. 

The project has also been shortlisted for a RICS East of England Award 2015 in three categories: Community Benefit, Tourism and Leisure, and Regeneration. The winners will be announced at the RICS Awards Dinner on the 6thMay. 

Corde is currently providing the design team and collaborative BIM skills for a range of projects including a new science centre at St John's School , Leatherhead, a £10m Community Centre in Cambridge, a range of projects in London and three new schools in Milton Keynes. 

The positions would suit ambitious individuals with strong conceptual design and presentation skills, combined with excellent organisational and technical ability. Candidates should have experience of a variety of software: a sound and practical understanding of Autodesk Revit is desirable. They will also need a keen interest in the technical aspects of the preparation of specification writing, detailed design, and construction drawings.

Please click here for more information and details of how to apply.

The FX Awards recognise the very best of interior design from all over the world.

The Forum is a unique public-sector collaboration between three separate organisations to create an exciting and dynamic new landmark building for Southend. A local authority, a university and an FE college have come together, pooling resources and knowledge, to create a new shared library, arts venue, lecture theatre and learning spaces where young and old, students and the local community can come together to use fantastic new facilities. The interior design is the ‘glue’ that holds everything together, ensuring that the building is inclusive to all users, and has its own individual and powerful identity, but still allows the three constituent partners to retain their own independent brands.

Winners will be announced on the 26th November 2014.

Every year Article 25 places a 10 x 10 grid over London, and the resulting 100 squares are allocated to prominent architects.  This year’s 10 x 10 grid is centered on the River Thames and the Shard.  Assigned a square on the North Bank, Roger’s painting takes in views of Tate Modern, The Globe, Southwark Cathedral, and the lively river frontage on London’s Southbank. By contrast the North Bank, part of the City, is altogether more serious.

Roger spent several hours gathering tickets, leaflets and newspapers from the area to incorporate into the painting.

For the last two years Roger’s paintings have each raised £3000 – here’s hoping someone likes this one just as much!

The painting will be auctioned in November.

UTC Reading opened last September and is a university technical college that delivers computer science and engineering excellence for 14-19 year old students. The UTC was formed by a partnership between the University of Reading, Activate Learning, Reading College and industry sponsors.

ADP’s design incorporates a major refurbishment of some existing buildings and a new building that accommodates an IT, Art and Music Centre. With the focus on computer science, our design takes inspiration from digital technology, and the buildings themselves have wireless technology throughout to enable learning on students’ devices. The project was delivered within budget and on time despite a very tight programme.

The Constructing Excellence Awards recognise outstanding companies and projects that have delivered improvements in all round performance through collaborative working. The winners of the Constructing Excellence in London and South East Awards 2014 will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 3^rd July.

Please click on the video link to hear the college principal Joanne Harper talking about the building. By clicking on our Vimeo link (to the right) there is also a video with Lee Nicholls from Activate Learning available.

ADP is now working with Kier and Activate Learning on UTC Oxfordshire, which is partnered with the University of Reading, Royal Holloway, University of London and industry sponsors.

The project is phase 2 of a redevelopment strategy for the school and involved the replacement of two mobile classrooms, forming a link between the first phase (a 2 storey new build) and the Grade II listed Westburn House. The resulting space is a sheltered courtyard that enhances and celebrates the setting of Westburn House. Sliding folding doors to the corridor enable the internal spaces to open up into the courtyard for evening performances.

There is also an IT rich ‘Space to Learn’ facility that enables images or films to be projected on to walls and acoustic curtains, with surround sound for an immersive learning experience.

The project will now enter the LABC Northern Region Building Excellence Awards, which are taking place on 11^th July 2014.

Mr Eavis was joined by staff and patients to celebrate the finished product, which is a mixture of vibrant colours and welcoming tones. He thanked the hospital for the invitation and said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in this project. I am a great supporter of the hospital. A couple of years ago my mother Sheila was being treated here aged 99. She received wonderful care and she enjoyed her time here. She was looked after really well.”

The new ‘Didcot Towers Leisure Park’ proposal includes converting three of the existing towers. The first tower will be converted into a water park experience with some of the highest flumes in the world weaving in and out of the towers. Swimmers will take the external lift up the 99 metres (325 feet) to the top of the tower and walk over a glass bridge (not for the faint-hearted!) and into the glass dome covering. When their turn comes to ‘take the plunge’ they will hurtle down from inside the tower out into the daylight as if soaring above Oxfordshire like one of the local Red Kites, before entering the tower once again and plummeting into the darkness. There will be three ‘levels’ of flume, as those who dare progress from a more gentle journey to the bottom through to the high velocity thrill that the fastest flume will offer. For those more inclined to relax with an awe inspiring view, the proposal includes a larger than Olympic sized swimming pool installed at the top of the tower, 80 metres in diameter and containing 3,0­00 cubic metres of water.

The first tower to be converted will have a large multiplex cinema installed, making best use of the natural darkness within. Screens will effectively be installed up through the tower, with floors retrofitted and lifts installed for moving large amounts of people up through the tower. The multiplex will be a timely addition to Didcot with the planned expansion of the town proceeding at a steady pace.

The final tower will be converted into the world’s largest man-made climbing facility. Inside the tower will be ‘starter walls’ to provide training for beginners, while the exterior will offer a class-leading opportunity for experienced climbers to scale the tower using different routes, from intermediate to difficult. There will also be abseiling from the top viewing platform, with users able to descend the near 100 metre drop to the ground below. This low cost addition will enable the new leisure park to be economically viable, with the facilities expected to attract climbers from all over the world to test themselves on this unique wall.

Underneath the power station there is an existing web of engineering plant that will become a large underground car park, with efficient access to and from the A34. The landscaping around the towers will be developed to create a parkland, increasing biodiversity and providing added value for visitors wishing simply to enjoy a walk, observe nature, or have a picnic.

ADP partner, Flo Parlio, who has designed water parks and theme parks in her native Portugal, said; ‘there would be considerable challenges converting the towers, but in partnership with a specialist engineering firm, we believe the site could be transformed cost-effectively and become a key visitor attraction. This would boost the economy and provide hundreds of jobs for the area, while saving the iconic skyline of South Oxfordshire. Our fool-proof plan demands urgent consideration before it’s too late to make the most of this unique site.’

RIBA has been giving out awards since 1966 and celebrates the best of British architecture, setting the standard for good, excellent and outstanding architecture all across the country.

Roger FitzGerald, ADP’s Practice Chairman, explained the design process alongside a presentation from Mark Ridgewell, Interior Design Director, focussing on space planning and interiors at the library. 

As designers of study and education spaces, these trends in library facilities help to inform how we can support our clients to continue to create award winning buildings.

Take a video tour of the building by clicking on the video tab above.

The judges commented; ‘Sitting on a typical school site, the immediate impact of this Primary School is one of bright and modern cheerfulness. A clear and logical arrangement of internal spaces and the clustering of classrooms around the communal library area, make this a friendly building for its young users. The use of colour and contrast flows from classrooms and learning environments, along the curved circulation spine, to the stimulating external play areas. Educational and interactive outdoor areas include a large playground, grass pitches, allotments, an amphitheatre and a trim trail, together with a sensory garden and willow tunnel. The result is a school that provides first-class facilities for pupils, staff and the community, creating a positive civic contribution to Cringleford.’

The school has also been shortlisted for a RICS East of England Award 2014 in the Community Benefit category. The winners will be announced at the RICS Awards Dinner on the 8^th May.

Pete Ryan, Head of Library Services at Canterbury Christ Church, is speaking on how the library fits within the overall strategy for the University. He has invited Roger FitzGerald, the ADP partner who led the design for the project, to tell the story of the design process from developing the brief to understanding the site, and responding to both. Mark Ridgewell, ADP’s Interior Design Director will outline how we used the power of interior design to create a library that works. 

The Forum development is a unique three-way client share between Southend Borough Council, the University of Essex and South Essex College, who have worked together and jointly funded the new £27 million building. Students and the wider community are now enjoying a modern academic and municipal library, learning facilities, an arts venue, a café and a new public square. As well as shared use of the library, the University and the College have acquired new research and education facilities including a lecture theatre, teaching areas, seminar rooms and offices.

The Forum is one of several major sustainable regeneration projects in Southend-on-Sea designed to unlock the town’s potential. Located on the site of a former public car park on Elmer Avenue, the building has vastly improved the urban realm and rejuvenated a run-down part of the town.

Already the building and its new public square are attracting local residents, students and staff, extending the public realm beyond the High Street into a new and exciting public space and community resource.

ADP Chair, Roger FitzGerald said: "This is an innovative collaboration by a number of client organisations, which make this a deceptively complex building.  We have worked hard to reconcile the diversity into a single, unified building that is contextual, sustainable, exciting to use, and adaptable to future change."

"Brick Lane" a mixed media piece depicting the famous area of London, received £3,000 in the auction, with all proceeds going to Article 25. Article 25 is an operational UK registered charity that designs, builds, and manages projects to provide better shelter wherever there is disaster, poverty, or need. 

The auction formed the culmination of the charity's annual event "10 x 10: Drawing the City London" in which an area of London is divided into a 10 x 10 grid, with the resulting squares being allocated to 100 prominent architects, designers and artists, who came together in the summer to create 100 pieces of work, giving 100 perspectives of London.

This year's event was titled 'Where the Bow Bells Chime' and divided the East side of London up amongst participants. 

The sale of the artworks will raise money for Article 25’s Street Children Centers, starting with projects in Ghana and Kenya. Over the next year, the charity will be helping to provide the necessary infrastructure for enabling children who live on the streets to get back to their families or foster families, schools and communities.

ADP also climbed 5 places in the overall Top Consultants table from 79 to 74. 

The award, which was presented to ADP Director Herpreet Rayet and Associate Director, Peter Boughey at a glittering ceremony last weekend, recognises that ADP has contributed innovatively and vibrantly with our services to the UK-India relationship.

The BBG are part of a pan-India network for British and Indian companies and individuals to meet, exchange ideas and network in friendly and informal surroundings.

The new library is the first city-fronting building the university has commissioned for over 30 years. It is positioned in a particularly important and sensitive location; within a Conservation Area and surrounded by listed buildings. It has therefore been designed to blend sympathetically with the setting but also stand out in its own right. Internal spaces flow out onto external areas with seating provided for people to congregate. The relationship with the public realm is further enhanced by floor-to-ceiling glazing giving views out to the surrounding listed buildings.

ADP is hosting a free one day seminar at the Redmonds Building, Liverpool John Moores University on Monday 29th April. ‘Shaping the City’ will explore how university buildings interact to create a unique sense of place and identity. 

Using case studies and site tours of the Redmonds Building and the University of Liverpool’s award winning Central Teaching Laboratories, the team will evaluate how ADP’s recently completed buildings at both universities are creating landmark spaces – spaces for everyone that contribute to the regeneration of Liverpool. We will walk between these buildings, along ADP’s public realm and landscape scheme. 

Colin Davies of Liverpool John Moores University is the keynote speaker and will be talking about the context of the Redmonds Building within the wider university masterplan. 

Knowledgeshare seminars provide opportunities for delegates to meet and share information over a light lunch, and include informative presentations from highly experienced architects and other keynote speakers.

Please note: The event is intended for university estates teams and senior management.

The team’s growth supports a number of exciting landscape projects including landscape work for Croydon schools, therapeutic outdoor spaces at Runcorn Cancer Support Centre, and a hard and soft landscaping scheme for the University of Leicester.

The building was developed in consultation with local residents and houses all of the Council’s key support services under one roof.  A multi-purpose welcome area provides access to a new library, hall, cafe, ‘My Council’ facilities, IT room for individual learning, meeting facilities, a welfare area and crèche, training kitchens, and wet and dry learning rooms. All spaces have been designed to be flexible so that they can be used for a variety of group sizes and functions.

Rooms open out onto landscaped courtyards, which are protected from the main street.  These support a variety of uses including a community garden and allotments, giving individuals and families the opportunity to grow their own produce.  Artwork by a local artist has been integrated into the garden.

The design of the building was driven by a strong environmental agenda.  The building structure is designed to exceed the requirements of current and future building regulations and is on track to achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.

The Britwell estate was built on farmland in 1957 by the Greater London Council to re-house Londoners who had lost their homes in the bombing raids during WW2. Driven by the Britwell and Haymill Regeneration Project, the building will be a catalyst for change, both in bringing the local community together and in creating a positive statement of sustainable regeneration.

Sustainability and energy efficiency continues to be a hot topic, as the estates professionals we spoke to seek to make lofty targets a reality. As measuring multiple facets of energy output becomes more accurate and widespread benchmarking more accessible, managing carbon emissions and energy efficiency is one of the main items on their agenda. In fact, general efficiency across the university estate, from maintenance to procurement was highlighted in our conversations, especially with a plethora of 1960s buildings requiring upgrades. 

See the word cloud above for a visual representation of our conversations. 

For a short video about the world-class NMR facilities at ADP-designed Millburn House at the University of Warwick, click here (Opens in new window. Clip starts at 3 minutes).

Our managing partner David Heslop, together with Jon Roylance and Nick Woodcock from our Birmingham studio will be able to explain how ADP’s design solutions can help university estates evolve and adapt to change in an era of reduced capital spend.     

Discover more about the scope and diversity of our Higher Education projects, including our recent work at the University of Warwick, and the University of Liverpool’s Central Teaching Laboratories, which won the Guardian University Award 2013.

By taking part in our survey, you will have the chance to win a Kindle Fire HD!

ADP partner, Simon Kneafsey and senior architect, Claire Wheeler attended the engagement events over two days, where they presented design boards and answered the questions of pupils, staff, local residents and all other interested parties.

Following a public consultation last April, it was decided that Oldfield Primary School would be relocated to enable the school to expand and increase pupil places. ADP was appointed by contractor Leadbitter as architect for the new scheme.

Further information is available at: http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/ed_oldfield_school_exhibition.htm#

The deadline for submitting comments is the 25^th February.

Jesmond Garden's is guaranteed to receive an Award, Commendation or Community Recognition. The level of the project’s success will be revealed at the Civic Trust Awards Ceremony, to be held at City Hall in Cardiff on Saturday 9 March 2013, supported by Cardiff Council.

The project was one of 144 regional finalists considered by the National Panel for an award.

The Civic Trust Awards scheme was established in 1959 to recognise the very best in architecture, design, planning, landscape and public art. Awards are given to projects of the highest quality design, but only if they are judged to have made a positive cultural, social or economic contribution to the local community.

As one of the longest standing built environment awards schemes in Europe, over 6,500 projects have been awarded during the last 52 years.

Patricia Sowter CBE, Chief Executive of C.H.A.T., said: “It is an absolute delight to me and my team that this fabulous new building is now completed and occupied by Woodpecker pupils and staff. Its bespoke facilities are marvellously well-suited to our needs, which only helps us to give our pupils the best possible start in their education.”

ADP’s partner in charge of the project, Simon Kneafsey, commented: “We really enjoyed the official opening of Woodpecker Hall Primary Academy’s new building. It is a project we are very proud of and we wish Woodpecker Hall every success for the future.”

The project, which was run from our Manchester studio, required the relocation of the hospital’s outpatient reception to align with the new PFI building and central car park completed in June. Located in the Turnberg Building, the £1.25m interior design project included the phased reconfiguration of an existing breastcare clinic to create a new pre-operative assessment clinic.

The design incorporates a slick pallet of materials and crisp graphics to assist wayfinding and people movement. A new concept of reception pods has been delivered, breaking down the barriers between patient and staff, whilst the innovative use of lighting has enlivened the internal space, creating a vibrant and fresh reception. 

For a sneak peek at the newly completed works, visit our Flickr page by clicking on the icon opposite.

The first phase, completed in 2010, encompassed the refurbishment of the ground and first floors and the construction of a new entrance, and has been viewed as a great success by all involved. The original building, designed by Sir Basil Spence, was a typical 1960s university library. The internal atmosphere was uninviting, with poor lighting levels and outdated furniture.

The refurbishment has turned the library into a modern learning hub that provides a more dynamic learning environment suitable for today’s diverse range of students.

We are also pleased to announce that our framework agreement with Aston University has been extended for a further two years.

The new centre creates a professional environment to support the school’s vocational training, with the aim of raising the aspirations of the students.

To view the tour, click the YouTube link opposite.

The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, delivered by ADP's Birmingham studio under partner Nick Woodcock, provides a 400 seat auditorium, drama studio, multi-use rehearsal room, several teaching suites and a feature foyer. It was partly funded by a donation from former pupil, Sir Paul Ruddock.

Sarah Evans, Principal of King Edward VI High School for Girls, commented " ...We are very pleased to be opening this wonderful new building, which will transform the way performing arts are taught within the schools.”

The awards panel commended Oakwood for its ‘curvature frontage imitating Clyde Crescent, together with the wonderful use of wood, a good architectural design that does not impinge on its surroundings.’ The school, which achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’, was also described by the panel as representing ‘the essence of sustainability’.

The diversity and depth of our work in the sector - from small scale refurbishment, to complex research laboratories and strategic masterplanning, across the UK - is one of our key strengths. Our sector leaders, including managing partner David Heslop, are looking forward to showcasing some of the practice's latest work.

We're also offering the opportunity to win a shiny new iPad 2 so if you're attending AUDE this year, make sure you stop by to learn more about ADP and take part in the raffle!

Attendance is by invitation only. If you would like to find out more, please contact us.

Roger, who leads ADP's independent school sector, and Charles, the practice's very own Client Adviser and state school strategy leader, will give an overview of the service, and provide feedback from a recent opinion poll ADP conducted of over 20 schools who have utilised an RIBA Client Adviser.

Roger and Charles will be joined by Nichola Mocatta, another Client Adviser and highly skilled schools architect.

For more information about using a Client Adviser, or if you have a challenging project coming up, you can get in touch by emailing us

marketing@adp-architecture.com

or telephoning 01865 248045

The Marudyan Society is dedicated to providing education to the children of parents living below the poverty line in India. Currently working in Old Gurgaon, the Society have opened a school offering sponsored education to over 190 children.

We've chosen to support the Society in their excellent work not least because our experience in delivering educational environments means we have a passionate belief in the importance of education. We're delighted to be able to help an organisation that shares this belief.

Secondly, while we're an international practice, we've always been committed to local delivery. Supporting the Marudyan Society means we get to make a practical, tangible difference to our wider community in Gurgaon - the home of our Indian studio. 

The project won in the Accessibility category, where '...the judges were united in their praise for this scheme which has incorporated accessibility from the outset. Ramp access has been incorporated into the landscape design which covers an 11 metre change in levels across the site. Internally, there is good colour contrast, excellent lighting, it is spacious and there is good free flow access to the external areas.'

We are also proud that Knop Law Primary School has won the Lord Mayor's Special Award. The Lord Mayor's Special Award recognises '...the overall design approach taken...Liaison with staff and pupils has ensured that the design provides the facilities required by this particular school rather than a standard solution. The judges were unanimous in their praise for the attention to detail given to both the internal and external areas of the school.'

Knop Law Primary School forms part of an initiative to support Newcastle City Council in delivering facilities that focus on the wider regeneration and community development in the city.

Since Knop Law opened its doors last year, Headteacher, Pauline Dutton, has been delighted with the school, commenting: “The school is really fit for purpose – we’re using every single part of it and using it well, which is an indication of a good build. The architect Chris Holmes really listened and then married our ideas with his own – it’s exactly what we wanted. It’s a lovely place to work, the children obviously love it and he deserves this award as he’s done a fantastic job.”

Bold and striking in its form, ADP’s design for STFSC provides a fitting showcase for the University’s sub-brand, UCLanSport, in the run up to the 2012 Olympics. Facilities include a high-spec eight-court timber sprung sports hall with a retractable 300-seat terrace and a fully glazed cafe which doubles up as a viewing gallery. There is also a squash court, fitness suite and timber sprung activity studios for dance, fitness and relaxation classes.

To cater for those students seeking an exciting, adrenaline-fuelled cardio workout there is an innovative black-out fitness suite with integrated audio and LED lighting system. This vibrant activity space uses loud music and disco lighting to get the heart racing in high-impact group exercise such as spin classes.

UCLan's new sports facilities will aid the general health needs of its students and staff, in addition to developing the University's own sporting elite.

The seminars provide opportunities for delegates to meet and share information over a light lunch, and include informative presentations from highly experienced architects and other keynote speakers.

Seminars will take place at the Andaz Hotel in London on 3rd November 2011, and the Hotel du Vinin Birmingham on 7th November 2011.

Attendance at the event is free of charge and spaces are allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

Please note: The events are intended for university estates teams and senior management.

The new state-of-the-art facility replaces the former 1930s main building with its inflexible cellular accommodation which restricted the delivery of the College’s changing curricular needs. It now comprises two wings of flexible teaching accommodation linked across a central atrium. This will enable the building to adapt to future needs with a long life and loose fit approach. Each departmental area has its own hub with a central staff base, its own resource area and easy access to WC facilities.

Designed in line with the College’s brief, the building promotes communications between different spaces through shared resource areas and by creating links across the College. The spacious atrium provides a light and airy area for eating, breakout, display and open access to the learning resource facilities.

This project is the second phase of the College's campus redevelopment programme. Works were phased to allow the College to remain in use throughout construction, causing minimal disruption to College life and education delivery.

The Forum will create a hub that will form the centre of Southend’s educational quarter. Jointly funded by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, the University of Essex and South Essex College of Further and Higher Education, the new facility will form an integrated municipal and academic facility. The Council is contributing £12.5m towards the projects cost, with £10.4m worth of funds coming from the University and £4m from the College.

ADP Partner, Roger FitzGerald, commented on the news: “We are thrilled to be working on this major project for Southend. The project will combine complementary uses for the Council, College and University, making it a really hard-working building for both Southend’s residents and its student community. It is set to be a really important cultural landmark for Southend.” Southend's residents will benefit from a 20% increase in accommodation from the existing municipal library, public access to a combined book collection, ICT stations and a large lecture theatre available to the public for events outside of normal teaching hours. There will also be a cafe, Focal Point Gallery, children's library and play space, and a new large public square with a giant LED screen to show sporting, local and cultural events.

Due to be completed in August 2013, the impressive four-storey building will be built on the former Farringdon car park site and replace the town's existing Central Library in Victoria Avenue. Contractors are expected to be announced in January 2012, with construction work starting the following month.

Simon Leftley, the Council's Corporate Director for Adult and Community Services described what the scheme means to the people of Southend: "The new library will be a fantastic asset to the people of the town, a place where people of all ages can go to study, learn, research and take part in a whole multitude of activities."

The quality of our university education continues to attract students from abroad, and as well as providing fee income to the institution, there are many associated spin-off benefits to the local economy, bringing trade to the residential, retail and leisure industries.

Davies showcased the University of Birmingham, and interviewed a number of students in ADP's undergraduate Medical School.

Recently, the completion of the superstructure of ADP's £20m New Academic Building was celebrated with a traditional "topping out" ceremony on Wednesday 15 June 2011. The University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, placed the final bit of concrete at the top of the four storey building, and then commented:

"It's better, I think, than we ever imagined," said Professor Farthing. "You can look at models, but it's only when you go on site that you get a sense of the real scale of it. It's just fantastic. This is going to be a centerpiece of campus."

For those of us who can't be on site to see the new building as it nears completion, ADP has released a new flythrough of the interior, which you can view by clicking the tab above.

‘Masterplanning the Campus’, written by ADP Partner, Roger FitzGerald, tells the story of how Sussex’s original campus has evolved over the years to meet the University’s changing needs.

The Falmer Campus, originally designed in the 1960s by celebrated architect Sir Basil Spence, reflects Spence’s renowned style – simple forms created from locally sourced materials. Set in stunning Downland landscape, the Modernist buildings are now listed for their iconic architecture.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the University of Sussex is publishing a commemorative book, ‘Making The Future’. The book contains a series of specially commissioned essays covering a diverse range of topics. As one of our longest standing clients, ADP was delighted to be approached to contribute to this publication.

‘Masterplanning the Campus’, written by ADP Partner, Roger FitzGerald, tells the story of how Sussex’s original campus has evolved over the years to meet the University’s changing needs.

The Falmer Campus, originally designed in the 1960s by celebrated architect Sir Basil Spence, reflects Spence’s renowned style – simple forms created from locally sourced materials. Set in stunning Downland landscape, the Modernist buildings are now listed for their iconic architecture. Having worked closely with the University since 2004, Roger has played an integral role in the development of Sussex's campus; creating a conservation plan to preserve the architectural integrity of the original buildings; a 20 year masterplan praised by CABE for being 'exemplary'; and several notable new build projects.

Recent additions include Swanborough House, the Fulton Building, and the new Academic and Teaching Building. These ADP buildings make their own mark on the Falmer Campus, whilst being respectful to the historical context in which they are set.

With further developments in store, the University of Sussex continues to thrive and develop with creativity and a strong sense of community. Here at ADP, we are proud to be a part of the University of Sussex's past, present and future.

Built in the early 20th Century at the heart of the popular seaside town of Whitley Bay in North Tyneside, the Spanish City once provided a wide range of entertainment facilities, including winter pleasure gardens. In its heyday, the building was a popular and vibrant facility that remains close to the hearts of many local people today, both from Whitley and further afield.

While the new scheme is respectful of Spanish City’s heritage, the project successfully marries old and new to deliver a reinvigorated mixed-use facility able to meet the contemporary needs of Whitley’s residents and provide flexibility for the future.

ADP's striking design hopes to return the Spanish City to its former glory, with a full restoration of the original dome including its loggias, or winter gardens, on either side of the dome itself. The design demonstrates a number of key influences that draw upon Whitley's heritage, including deck chairs, sails, kites and the former roller coaster. ADP's choice of colour reflects the sea and the sky, and uses reflections and ambient light to ensure the buildings will resonate with the surroundings.

ADP's Partner in charge of the project, Charles Greenall, commented: "For all of the team, this is an unparalleled opportunity to rejuvenate a site that many of us, including myself, remember from our childhoods. The first phase of the project is one of the most crucial - the full restoration of the Spanish City dome. It's this restoration that is at the heart and soul of our entire scheme. We want to return the dome to pride of place in Whitley, and complement it with strong, high quality contemporary architecture that allows the layers of history on this fantastic site to be clearly visible."

Mrs. Dutton went on to add: ‘I can’t tell you how delighted I am with the building. The school is really fit for purpose – we’re using every single part of it and using it well, which is an indication of a good build. The architect Chris Holmes really listened and then married our ideas with his own – it’s exactly what we wanted. It’s a lovely place to work, the children obviously love it and he deserves this award as he’s done a fantastic job.’

The judges, too, were impressed with the inclusive design approach and creativity employed in both the design and execution of Knop Law Primary School. They described the school as a ‘delightful place’, and that ADP’s scheme '…marked a return to the core values of how children are nurtured and taught in intuitive and ambitious surroundings.'

ADP Partner, Charles Greenall, commented: 'We are very proud of the work we have done at Knop Law, and this award is recognition of the passion and commitment shown by all parties in achieving something very special for the school and wider community.'

Working in collaboration with Aura, Knop Law Primary School forms part of an initiative to support Newcastle City Council in delivering school buildings that focus on the wider regeneration of Newcastle. As a result, collaboration and community are at the heart of the design, and Knop Law offers an inspiring and safe environment for pupils, teachers, parents and community groups in the Westerhope area.

Amidst strong competition in the challenging award category for Community Benefit, Space to Learn was recognised at the RICS Awards dinner on Friday 15th April held at Newcastle's Civic Centre. This exciting project provides experimental space to try new technology, learning methodologies and teaching styles in a highly flexible, cost effective scheme.

Space to Learn offers the opportunity for local teachers to train to the highest standards, stimulating young imaginations and encouraging the region's children to achieve their full potential.

Refurbishment itself is a catch-all term, and can include each of three main elements: refresh, remodel, reuse, or a combination of two or more. It can range in complexity from a fresh new interior for a tired school reception, to the extensive remodelling of a university department, or the reuse of a redundant, outmoded building. Whatever the form of refurbishment, it requires careful analysis of current uses and needs, and the ability to creatively reinterpret existing spaces to meet those needs.

At ADP, we have particular skill and experience at this type of work, unlocking the potential of existing buildings and reinvigorating them for new use. We also consider the life of the building in the future, and look at ways we can anticipate future needs. This analysis informs our design, and can bring further cost benefits to refurbishment.

A key example of our creative refurbishment work has recently been completed at Aston University's main library. While a good library is a must for any university, in what is now a competitive Education market, building a brand new one was not a viable option at Aston. Instead, we extensively refurbished the existing library and the result can be seen to the right. Formerly an outmoded, dark and congested facility, we have successfully transformed the original 1960s building into a modern learning resource centre.

Come and meet partners Charles Greenall, Simon Kneafsey and Jon Roylance who oversee ADP's schools strategy, and discover the many ways we are pioneering school environments across the UK.

Despite the budget cuts and the bad news, we are successfully working with schools, parents and local authorities to achieve buildable, innovative solutions that offer real transformation for learners of all ages.

You can learn more about high profile projects like Hartlepool's unique Space to Learn teaching laboratory and our scheme at Jesmond Road Primary School where stage, not age is the focus. Also on show are creative refurbishment schemes that are low on cost, but big on impact, and strategic premises development plans that helps schools get the most leverage from their assets.