Royston

Commenced in August 2007 , handed over in September 2008 and officially opened in May 2009, the Royston Lifelong Learning Centre for Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council was partially funded through European Objective 1 funding.

The 965 sq m scheme brings together a range of learning resources onto one purpose built site on Station Road, adjacent to council offices and the town’s swimming pool.
The striking two-storey facility features a rotunda structure at the rear of the building housing a computer access area and casual reading zone at ground floor level. Royston’s replacement library occupies a large open plan area on the ground floor, with additional facilities including a children’s day care centre, a baby change facility, interview rooms and administrative offices.

Teaching and training facilities are at first floor level with a large ICT suite and a demonstration kitchen. A new café and large community meeting room, as well as three smaller meeting rooms and a range of back office accommodation for staff are also located on this floor.

The intention was to improve local access to services such as Barnsley Connects and cash collection services. The co-location of services has improved access for local residents and the building is quickly becoming an integral part of the local community.

The £1.6m brick and cedar clad building was designed to achieve a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating; its highly insulated, airtight structure benefits from underfloor heating and biomass boiler, whilst the first floor offices make maximum use of natural light via a glazed central valley in the roof structure.