As part of the masterplan development for Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, and located around the central Green, The Learning Campus (Phase 1) will provide a major new education and skills resource, covering training from entry level to L7 skills, linked to the hospital, and focused on widening participation in education as well as targeting hard to reach groups such as those who are homeless, out of work, or refugees with transferable skills. The project will also establish a university presence in Smethwick.
The design proposes a compact 3-storey building arranged around a central atrium in plan with a minimal basement for plant. Key features of the design include:
• An accessible and planted roof terrace
• Solar photovoltaic array at roof level (providing 25% of annual electrical energy consumption) and ground source heat pump system with boreholes in the Green
• On-site parking for Blue Badge holders and deliveries only
• Small on-site facility management (FM), building management, and stores facility with major works supported by the Trust’s (FM) capabilities from other sites.
• Flexible classrooms that accommodate 30 students, which can also be reconfigured to accommodate 60 students with movable walls in-between.
