North East Futures University Technical College

Optimised levels of natural light and ventilation have transformed a Grade II Listed Building into a highly productive learning space The main challenge for Newcastle-based Xsite Architecture was to refurbish the Hawthorne building so that it created a space where students wanted to congregate in the communal areas beneath, yet still satisfied Listed Buildings’ requirements and maintained the feel of the industrial heritage of the site. A key requirement was high levels of natural light and ventilation and the architects took their lead from the mounting body of research that shows how these elements can increase learning capacity.