Carmel College

The ambitious scheme to replace 80% of the existing buildings will transform Carmel College, St Helens into a truly outstanding and inspiring place of learning.

Designed by Liverpool based Ryder Architecture, the primary drive of the brief was to create a new 21st century campus with a social heart whilst minimising disruption to the college and its 1,500 students during the works.

The Centre for Art & Design was the first of the buildings to be completed.  The two storey contemporary building boasts 6 large specialist art studios, technical workshop, ICT rooms, specialist facilities such as a sewing room, dark room and tutorial area, whilst on the ground floor a vast glass fronted Gallery runs the full length of the building.

A Wetherby Insulated Render was chosen for the external façade of the buildings with 100mm Mineral Wool insulation being directly fixed to the steel frame structures. The use of Mineral Wool also negated the need for additional fire breaks.  K&A basecoat and a layer of reinforcing mesh was applied to the Mineral Wool, followed with a layer of 1.5mm Silicone Render in white, which with its weatherproof and self cleaning properties  gave an outstanding finish to the buildings which will protect it for many years to come.