Forth Valley College

Oberlanders-Dyer are hugely excited by the opportunity now available to play a key role in the design and delivery of the New Falkirk Campus for Forth Valley College. We will bring our mutual experiences and expertise gained from delivering educational establishments both locally and around the globe. We are also acutely aware of the local needs and aspirations of Falkirk & District and how much a successful FVC Falkirk Campus.

Our design solution responds to the primary assets of thesite. The street frontage to the south facilitates a clearly identifiable presence which can increase the profile of both the College and the Community Arts facility, presenting a gateway building both into Falkirk and Grangemouth. Secondly, the distant views northwards to the Kelpies, The Ochil Hills and the industries of Grangemouth, will be rendered visible from the upper levels through beneficial orientation and distribution of accommodation. The site proposal is informed by two strategic moves; the circle and the street. A circular landform is gently  mposed upon the site. The disparate and varied edge conditions surrounding the site are resolved through the creation of a  entred and focussed heart to the development. The circular form gathers together, nurtures those within, but reaches out in equal measure to those outside, presenting a unified and legible form to the communities and industries beyond. Inclusive, protective and nurturing.

The landscaped circle will guide movement around the site. One option creates a full loop of access to active areas, entering from the south, with first drop off, then public parking, then visitor, then student parking, then finally service access. A sequential route is created with a clear hierarchy from public through to private. The concept presents a robust development strategy that can respond to future dialogue and consultation with College, Council and user groups. The circular form, strongly defined by tree and landscape, leads to a series of landscaped pockets, some pockets with simple, robust and handsome landscaped car parking, some for recreation and contemplation, some for screened delivery and storage.

We propose a central street, covered and sheltered from the elements, linking and making visible all activities and communities within the college. The street will make visible the broad range of endeavours within the college. It will create natural, controlled and incidental interactions. It will function through day and night, through all weathers, for learners, teachers and community alike. The street will run from the public frontage to the south, through to the more functional college activities and parking to the north. Within the street, the more public uses occupy the ground floors, rising through animated teaching areas on the floor above, through to a top floor for teachers and administration. The accommodation off the street is configured to be flexible and adaptable, indeed, at this stage, prior to briefing with client groups, the arrangements shown should be regarded as indicative only. The concept is sufficiently robust to allow innumerable future configurations to be considered in response to client group preferences.