Ebbw Vale Learning Zone
- Location
- Ebbw Vale, Wales, UK
- Client
- Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
- Expertise
- Architecture
- Acoustics
- Building Services Engineering
- Civil & Structural Engineering
- Interior Design
- Landscape Architecture
- Lighting
- Town Planning
- Completion
- 2012
- Cost
- £28m
The Learning Zone is a further education development for 16 to 18 year olds and lies at the heart of regeneration of the former steelworks site at Ebbw Vale; the largest of its kind in Wales.
The four-storey Zone provides educational opportunities in a series of key curriculum areas, as well as incorporating vocational training facilities such as hair and beauty salons, building and plumbing workshops and catering.
Part of the wider masterplan known as The Works which BDP also designed, is a leisure centre, schools for 3-16 year olds, a 500 space multi-storey car park and an energy centre. The building provides an urban edge on the regeneration site close to the existing town centre.
These new education facilities will sit alongside an arts centre, low carbon housing, general offices and a wetland park in the £350m scheme.
The building's design included excellent air tightness, exposed concrete soffits, natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting tanks and photovoltaic cells all contributing to its BREEAM excellent status.
