Balfour Beatty to create a new craft and skills based educational training centre for the Goldsmiths Company
(28/05/2010)

Balfour Beatty Construction Scottish & Southern has been awarded a £12 million contract to construct a state-of-the-art charitable training facility for young aspiring silversmiths and jewellers in Clerkenwell, Central London for the Goldsmiths’ Company.

Work on the 78-week project will commence imminently and will involve the conversion and refurbishment of a derelict Grade II Listed London Board School at ‘Eagle Court’ to create a new craft and skills based educational training centre and the construction of a new five-storey, natural stone and brass-clad building.

At ground floor level, a glass and steel roof structure will be constructed to create a light and airy atrium which will link the old and new buildings, providing a contemporary open public access space. The atrium will be used as a reception area to provide access to the exhibition space and café which will also have street frontage.

The upper three floors will provide a variety of studio and work spaces designed to accommodate up to 24 creative businesses, whilst the fourth floor will provide meeting space and seminar facilities within a glazed terrace. The basement will house toilets, showers and changing facilities, provide storage, and secure vaults in addition to the plant rooms.

The footprint of the existing site is 1,720 square metres, after redevelopment the floor space of the centre will consist of approximately 3,400 square metres.

The centre will be managed by the newly formed Goldsmiths' Centre Charity, a not for profit organisation. The purpose built site will provide vocational training and craft related exhibitions, which will be supported by its workshop and studio provision for creative businesses, corporate conference facilities and a café which will be open to the public.