VR is quickly sweeping the construction industry by storm. Its implementation within a select few areas has resulted in a wide spread adoption that is changing the face of construction for the better, improving efficiencies, reducing programme times and enabling the client to interact with the design in a way that has not been available previously.

At 10architect we use VR within almost all of our projects. Its integration within the practice is paramount to our vision for the office, and how we believe all members of the design team can collaborate better in order to produce a better end product for the client.

To be completely immersed within the 3D environment enables the user to understand space, make informed design decisions and, most importantly, allows every member of the team to understand, and resolve issues, immediately as they are flagged up through the VR interaction.

David and Alan have continued their working relationship with Loreto College and were delighted to assist the college with a scheme to reclad the courtyard elevations of the Ball Building.  Although a relatively recent construction the existing cedar cladding of the Ball Building had started to fail. It was showing signs of rot, decay, varied weathering and staining resulting in the overall appearance detracting from the character of the well-used courtyard area.  

The college approached 10architect in April and required the appointed contractor to be onsite by July with the works being completed by September – an extremely challenging time frame. Our client centred ethos and mobile working approach meant that the scheme could be designed and detailed onsite with the college’s instant feedback allowing immediate resolution of issues.  This collaborative approach saved time during the design development period and permitted a traditional tender to be issued and returned in time for the July start onsite.

In spite of unforeseen challenges with the existing building, the recladding works were completed to a high standard and the college were delighted with the quality and appearance of the refreshed elevations. 

Responding to a call for help in a local newspaper, we were delighted to get involved with the Glossop Scouts. As part of our charitable work, we were able to help prepare ideas for their funding bid, and use it as an excuse to go for a mountain bike in the hills!!

Back to school with the chalk too!!!

The Biopharma facility is seen as an exemplar in the same way construction, catering, hair & beauty, engineering and science all promote their particular skills and training opportunities within the college. This transparent visual and expressive approach underpins the core of the new Biopharma building.

The organisational plan of the facility, and the movement patterns within the building, reflect real life working scenarios in order to expose the students to a professional environment and to engender habits that are fundamental to high-quality biopharmaceutical technical support. The daily routines of maintaining cleanliness are reflected in the flow of teaching spaces through the facility. With this in mind, the changing facilities and “process” of changing are treated as equally important to the laboratory training spaces.

This flow is wrapped around a central learning teaching space with glazed walls to all sides allowing students to see a snapshot of all the various stages of biopharmaceutical cleanliness in operation and delivery.

This approach is similar to an airport, where different functions are segregated but are transparent, allowing the students to engage and learn from others in the whole of the pharmaceutical process.

This learning flow is reflected in the architecture with a strong wedge shaped design with learning at the heart and pharmaceutical flow around the edges. The design hovers over the entrance area where students can arrive cluster and access the classroom, the new science laboratory and the engineering block on the lower floor. This open space for events leads to the first floor to act as a central hub for this new building to connect to the STEM Engineering complex.

This gives immense flexibility with events and showcasing manufacturers, but also allows future flexibility around converting space to increase learning provision.