Inspiring the Next Generation: Springwell Community College Students Visit Our Offices for a Day of Learning
Recently, we were honoured to welcome students from Springwell Community College and Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form to our Chesterfield head office for a educational visit. Led by our Director, Dave Willis, the objective of the day was to provide students with valuable insights into the architectural profession and an in-depth understanding of our practice.
The day commenced with an informative presentation that highlighted key aspects of our work, including:
Following the presentation, the students engaged in individual discussions with several of our team members, each of whom shared their expertise and experiences, offering the students a unique perspective on the diverse career paths available within architecture.
Jon Ellis, Architect, shared his personal journey to becoming an Architect and provided an in-depth look at the different project stages, from pre-development to implementation. He also demonstrated Building Information Modelling (BIM) software, showing how we use 3D models to design and coordinate projects.
Matt Bentley, Associate and Chartered Architectural Technologist, explained his day-to-day responsibilities and walked the students through a recent project from inception to completion. He also explored the students’ current skills and interests, emphasising the opportunities for growth and development within the industry.
Jess Lintern, Interior Designer, discussed her transition from studying Interior Architecture to becoming an Interior Designer at Frank Shaw Associates. Jess shared her experience working on various projects, detailing the importance of choosing the right colour schemes and materials to bring spaces to life.
Megan Turpin, Apprentice Architectural Assistant (Part 2) and Social Value Lead, spoke about the different educational pathways into architecture. She compared traditional university education with apprenticeship routes, showcasing her own university projects and current work, demonstrating the diverse skills needed in the profession.
We were thrilled with the positive feedback from the students, who were buzzing with excitement on their journey back to school, discussing everything they had learned. It was a day full of inspiration, learning, and deep insight into the world of architecture.
Paula Symonds , Projects Manager from Direct Education Business Partnership said:
"I just wanted to say a huge thank you again for today. It was so interesting, and the staff and students were so impressed by how you had organised it all.? ?There was also such a lovely atmosphere amongst the team, which is really important for students to see."
In fact, this isn’t the first time we’ve connected with Springwell Community College. Back in 2010, Frank Shaw Associates was honoured to design their new school as part of the Local Education Partnership (LEP) with Derbyshire County Council’s ￡750 million Building Schools for the Future programme. Springwell Community School was the first in a ten-year program aimed at transforming education facilities across Derbyshire. The design was recently completed, and we are proud to announce it has achieved BREEAM Very Good certification.
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The new Arts Specialist College campus for 900 students provides flexible spaces for various educational models and extended future uses for the school and local community. We are particularly proud of the way our design integrates the existing Sports Hall and Performing Arts Block with the newly developed spaces. The courtyard landscape offers a human scale, which has contributed to improved student behaviour and overall calmness in the school’s circulation areas.
?We’re proud to have been part of this journey, creating environments that inspire and support young minds.
As Julian Burgess, Derbyshire County Council’s BSF Design Advisor, summed up:
"The Dining Hall/Library is absolutely splendid! We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of this project, and we look forward to supporting more educational endeavours in the future."
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Projects Manager at Direct Education Business Partnership
1 个月Thank you so much for hosting students from Springwell Community College and Direct Education Business Partnership (CIO) as part of Careers Made in Chesterfield. It was a brilliant morning.