Dumfries & Galloway College, STEM Teaching Hubs

A multi-disciplinary team led the development of STEM Teaching facilities for Dumfries & Galloway College at their campuses in Dumfries and Stranraer. Two hubs are located at Dumfries, one focusing on Care and the other on Renewable Technologies. A third hub is located at Stranraer focusing on Engineering subjects.

Each hub project had unique requirements, including a dementia care training facility in the Care Hub in Dumfries, which required significant client engagement, research and collaboration with colleagues from our healthcare team to understand the intricate and delicate aspects of dementia care provision and the role which a considered design can play.  

Our design features a training classroom with a simulated domestic residential setting including living, kitchen bathroom and bedroom areas, all set up to meet the needs of a person with dementia. This allows students to undertake practical training within a realistic care setting.

The second hub demanded the extensive use of renewable energy technologies.  It includes two inter-connected classrooms and an upper floor plant area featuring a range of renewable technologies including air source heat pumps, roof mounted solar PV array and an adjacent wind turbine. Everything is fully accessible for students to access and learn from.  

The Hub in Stranraer is a bold, contemporary new extension within the main landscaped courtyard of the primary campus. The design of the teaching space had to accommodate state of the art vehicle engineering workshops.  Engagement with a number of industry partners to understand the teaching approach, what equipment and technologies were used and how the teaching sessions were delivered was critical.  

All hubs include the latest in digital teaching platforms to blend in-person and remote teaching. This included the installation of a large, multi-screen interactive teaching wall in the Dumfries care hub. 

The new facilities provide space for external engagement between the College and local businesses and the ability to provide access for the delivery of a wide range of vocational courses in support of the local economy.