Buckingshire College - Oxford Road & Brooke Street Campus, High Wycombe

The Oxford Road and Brook Street campus redevelopment is the culmination of the merger of Amersham & Wycombe College and Aylesbury College and the consolidation of their existing campuses

Atrium sketch

After winning a design competition, Rock Townsend was appointed to develop design options for two alternative sites. The initial scope included a thorough analysis of these potential council sites, focusing on budget, project costs, and space requirements for the curricula. This analysis also considered the varying site contexts, constraints, and environmental factors.

The brief for the new college buildings specified approximately 7,500 SqM, with diverse spaces to accommodate the full curriculum, covering both core academic subjects and vocational subjects within the construction and automotive industries. It is expected that approximately 50% of the total area will be dedicated to teaching, while the remaining space will house a café, social learning areas, student support services, as well as teaching and administrative offices.

After extensive evaluation and assessment, the Town Centre Oxford Road and Brook Street sites were selected as the most appropriate locations for the new college buildings. The core curriculum will be housed at Oxford Road, and the vocational subjects will be situated at Brook Street.

As the project progressed to Design Stage 2, the brief evolved:

Oxford Road will comprise approximately 6,600 SqM, accommodating English, Maths, Science, Sports Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Performing Arts and Music, Creative Arts, Media, Digital and Gaming, the Learning Resource Centre (LRC), Marketing, Learning Technology, as well as the café, gym, and administrative offices.

Brook Street will comprise 1,580 SqM of workshops for automotive, plumbing, gas, electrical, and bricklaying teaching and learning.

It is acknowledged that the proposed Oxford Road building is a significant intervention in the street scene, and its relationship with the neighbouring buildings is contrasting. However, the form and massing respond to two key drivers: the Council's aspirations for a ‘gateway’ or ‘landmark’ building for its town centre regeneration, and the College’s demanding accommodation brief and aspirations for a ‘visionary’ building on this prominent corner site. In contrast, the two-story building on Brook Street, while allowing for the 5-meter high spaces needed for the vocational courses, is more consistent with and sympathetic to the established street scene.

In January 2023, Buckinghamshire Council granted unanimous “resolution to grant planning permission,” enabling the project to move forward.

Ground Floor Layout

“I am thrilled that we have passed this significant milestone in realising our vision to deliver inspirational technical, vocational and professional skills education in the south of the County.  The new campus will enable many more students to access and benefit from industry standard learning spaces and will enhance our ability to respond to employers’ current and future skills needs.”
— Jenny Craig, College Principal & CEO

Brook Street will comprise 1,580 SqM of workshops for automotive, plumbing, gas, electrical, and bricklaying teaching and learning.

It is acknowledged that the proposed Oxford Road building is a significant intervention in the street scene, and its relationship with the neighbouring buildings is contrasting. However, the form and massing respond to two key drivers: the Council's aspirations for a ‘gateway’ or ‘landmark’ building for its town centre regeneration, and the College’s demanding accommodation brief and aspirations for a ‘visionary’ building on this prominent corner site. In contrast, the two-story building on Brook Street, while allowing for the 5-meter high spaces needed for the vocational courses, is more consistent with and sympathetic to the established street scene.

In January 2023, Buckinghamshire Council granted unanimous “resolution to grant planning permission,” enabling the project to move forward.