AS the roof begins to be added to Pocklington School’s new art and design technology centre, the architect behind it has explained the inspiration behind the new building.

Simon Mitchell, of the Mitchell Design Consultancy, York, was given the task of adding a light-filled and functional structure to the school’s grand brick buildings, which largely date back to 1849, with later additions. Mr Mitchell transformed what he describes as “a jigsaw puzzle of volumes, calculations, and a budget” – into a blueprint for an attractive building whose soft and traditional exterior complements the school’s rural setting.

Work is now well underway on the £2.5 million art and design technology centre. Phase One of the building is due to be handed over at the end of May 2017, with Phase Two due for completion by the end of October 2017.

The original 1969 Art and Design Centre, a single-storey structure out of keeping with the rest of the school, is being removed to make way for the new Centre and Mr Mitchell was keen to begin afresh.

He said: “When studying the site plan, it seemed obvious that the footprint and orientation of the old Art and Design building didn’t enhance sight lines and had no relationship with the neighbouring buildings.”

Although determined to produce a building with a contemporary look and feel, Mr Mitchell revised his original plans in terms of materials used.

He said: “I still hoped to create a contemporary silhouette, external walls and roof line. Contemporary design fails very often by the all too liberal use of timber, aluminium, block work, brick and copper in an attempt to cover all bases. I was determined not to follow that fashion.”

Mr Mitchell settled on York handmade brick to link back to the main school buildings, and chose deliberately restrained colours and materials. He selected zinc for the roof covering and Corten, or weathering steel, for the vertical detailing because it has a striking rust-like finish which doesn’t need repainting.

In contrast, the interior of the building has been designed to inspire creativity. The working spaces, studios and workshops will have unpainted cement walls, polished concrete floors and exposed steel columns and roof beams.

The project has been the focus of a major campaign by the school to raise funds to build the new centre in support of the next phase of the school’s strategic development plan.

The campaign total has reached £1,700,000, with £300,000 still to be raised to reach the target of £2 million.