John Roberts Architects - Lincoln University Technical College
Project Details
Project - Lincoln University Technical College
Architects - John Roberts Architects
Contractor - Willmott Dixon Construction
Consulting Engineers - Ward Cole Consulting Engineers
Structural Steel Fabricator - P&D Engineering Services
SFS Manufacturers - EOS Facades
SFS Installers - Grantham Ceilings & Interiors
Roofing Contractor - Rooksby Roofing
Technology - Light Gauge Steel
Sector - Education
Project Overview
The Lincoln University Technical College was formed from the re-use of an existing Grade II Listed Victorian Girls School and the redevelopment of an area of "land-locked" site to the rear of this building. The site lies at the foot of the International Heritage Site of Lincoln Cathedral, surrounded by further Listed Buildings, mostly private residential properties. The project uses a range of pre-fabricated components to overcome numerous logistical challenges presented by the difficult site constraints.
The design team was brought together by Willmott Dixon Construction under the Scape Framework with the sole purpose of providing an innovative solution to a very challenging brief and even more challenging development site. Access to the site was incredibly challenging via a narrow cobbled lane leading from the Minster Yard. The specific accommodation requirements for the new building were such that the site had to be partially cut into the historic hillside to form three storeys of accommodation including basement and built to the extremities of the site boundaries in all directions. The basement was excavated to over 3m in depth following the construction of a contiguous piled structure to retain the surrounding hillside.
Main structural steel sections had to be limited in length to enable access onto site, a lightweight SFS frame was pre-fabricated to span between floors forming the external wall construction. Aluminium framed windows were inserted into the SFS frame fixed to specially fabricated extended brackets prior to the external wall cladding being constructed. This, together with the use of Longspan composite roof cladding panels which enabled the omission of steel purlins to form the roof, facilitated an early watertight programme enabling fit-out to commence whilst the final external facing materials were applied. The SFS framing was then clad with a mixture of quarry faced and smooth ashlar local limestone walling, the composite roof panels were then clad with a terne coated stainless steel sheet finish with traditional batten roll detailing. The use of pre-fabricated components achieved an early watertight programme, a greater degree of accuracy, less waste and higher levels of thermal insulation than could have been achieved with a traditional form of construction.
