We Won!! RBS scooped the Best Education Building Award at the 2016 LABC West Yorkshire Building Excellence Awards for the Jonathan Silver Building, Shipley College, Saltaire.

Senior Architect Caroline Batson who led the design team comments, “RBS are extremely proud to have scooped this award. It was a pleasure to lead the design team to create a local building which provides such a fantastic facility. I am very proud to see the building in action providing such amazing support for the students”.

Forming part of the Shipley College Estate, the £2m purpose built Jonathan Silver Building was specially designed to enable young people who have learning and mobility difficulties to receive the education they deserve by reducing everyday barriers that they often face. The building helps students achieve their educational goals and move towards independent living by enabling them to access a wide range of facilities and support, whilst reducing everyday barriers.

The concept for the new building was to provide students with a sense of ownership, a safe environment and their own separate break out area for relaxation. The centre has extra wide corridors, a multi-purpose space, split height kitchen fixtures, specialist support facilities tailored for small class sizes and a neutral colour scheme.

The design draws upon the historic context of the bordering World Heritage Site to create a modern, sustainable building which benefits the local community.

Julie Bales, Vice Principal Curriculum at Shipley College adds "The building is a great asset to our students and we are delighted it has won this prestigious award."