Oaklands College, St Albans Campus
Oaklands College’s St Albans campus, a site steeped in history as both a manor house and former agricultural college, has undergone a transformative £50 million regeneration.
Spearheaded by DLA Architecture, the project aimed to replace outdated facilities with modern, student-focused buildings while enhancing the campus’s natural and historic charm.
The Requirement for Renovation
Despite its historical significance, the St Albans campus’s infrastructure had fallen behind contemporary educational standards. The assortment of teaching facilities, developed over various periods, lacked cohesion and modern functionality. This necessitated a radical overhaul to create an environment that aligns with current educational practices and meets student expectations.
DLA Architecture devised a phased masterplan to strategically replace existing buildings and establish a cohesive, forward-looking campus
Updating Oaklands College
The masterplan’s centrepiece was the creation of a new college square, around which nine new buildings were organised. This layout aimed to foster a vibrant college community, supported by significant landscape improvements to enhance the Green Belt setting of the campus.
In collaboration with SD Samuels, the project incorporated our wellTEC SQ-20/20 profiled sheet which was perforated with an R5 T7 triangular pitch for the roof/plant cladding, contributing to the campus’s sustainability goals. The green roofs blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, promoting biodiversity and providing insulation benefits.
The regeneration of Oaklands College’s St Albans campus represents a significant investment in the future of education at the institution. The new facilities meet contemporary educational needs while preserving and enhancing the campus’s historic and natural charm. The phased approach ensured minimal disruption to the college’s operations, allowing students and faculty to continue their activities during the transformation.
The £50 million regeneration project at Oaklands College’s St Albans campus showcases how thoughtful design and strategic planning can rejuvenate a historic educational site. By blending modern facilities with the campus’s natural and historic elements, DLA Architecture has created a vibrant, cohesive, and sustainable environment that aligns with current educational practices and meets the expectations of today’s students.
