The St Austell College SKI building represents a new approach to sustainable education infrastructure. This 240m² new build is a testament to innovative construction techniques and sustainable design, specifically tailored to train the next generation of green construction and energy professionals. This was an exciting project for us at Fox Construction Solutions, as we are always looking to support sustainable initiatives.

The building comprises a timber frame with aluminium cladding and a warm roof system. Within the four-month project timescale, a classroom and a state-of-the-art workshop were constructed, incorporating ground source and air source heat pumps, solar panels, and other energy-generating technologies.

The project presented unique challenges due to narrow site access and the requirement to maintain full college operations during construction. Precise site management was undertaken to minimise disruption to staff and students. Alongside this, challenges arose with initial groundworks and slab difficulties, but cleverly integrated damp-proofing and radon membranes provided an effective solution.

This project successfully demonstrates how educational institutions can create cutting-edge learning spaces that not only teach sustainable technologies but also embody those principles in their very design and construction.