John Wheatley College, East End Campus, Glasgow

Background & Context

The College remains on more than one campus in order to meet the needs of a dispersed and 'territorial' community. The new build has been designed to enable local residents to take advantage of the employment opportunities that the Clyde Gateway initiative will bring to a community that has suffered significantly from the collapse of heavy industries and the environmental blight which they caused.

The eco-friendly and sustainable nature of the design is currently unique in the sector and the campus will provide an eco-friendly amenity area for the local community and promote local biodiversity.

A partnership has been formed with Milnbank Housing Association who will build sustainable social housing on an adjacent site. The partnership with Milnbank will enable the Housing Association and the College to develop an environmental management system and, in the longer term, possible collaboration on a Sustainable Development Forum in the East End.

Sustainability and social inclusion were key drivers. The College was described as a 'college without walls' and its primary mission is to make education accessible to those who have missed out on more traditional routes and also to make an impact on local economic, social and physical regeneration. Greater emphasis is placed on the teaching relationship than on the actual physical environment in which teaching takes place.

The building's intention is to be a radical statement of the potential of alternative and carbon-free energy sources in a public building and will set new standards for educational and other public buildings in Scotland.

The development is a new campus incorporating teaching space for a variety of subject areas, administrative functions, learning resources space and social space.

It encompasses energy efficient approaches to water supply, recycling, heating, ventilation and insulation. It will also be fully accessible for people with disabilities.

It is accessible via new bus, rail and cycle routes which will reduce the need for students and staff to bring cars into the area. A new railway halt is planned less than 100m from the building.

The campus, which was built on a brownfield site, will have a landscape of natural meadowland to encourage the growth of indigenous plant species that require minimal intervention. This will provide an amenity area for the local community and promote biodiversity.

The campus is very much a community resource and local groups and individuals are encouraged to use the facilities. The library is run by the local council and this helps emphasise the accessibility of the College to non-students.