Introduction
The Skills Centre located in Barking Town Centre is a Diploma Exemplar Facility, a new type of educational facility providing 14-19 year olds with vocational training in Hospitality, Hair and Beauty, Construction and IT.
In addition to state of the art training facilities for each of the vocations, the Skills Centre will also host a Bistro, giving a commercial face to the Skills Centre which allows the students a chance to train in a real working environment.
Additionally, the Barking Methodist Church is provided with a new front facing onto the Market Square providing them with meeting rooms and community function spaces. The Skills Centre will run on flexible hours more like a college than a school and provide opportunities for the public to attend seminars, lectures, and other events hosted by The Skills Centre.
This is the first phase of Rick Mather Architects' London Road masterplan to redevelop Barking as a major centre within the London Thames Gateway.
Client
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Location
Barking, UK
Size
5000 sqm
Value
£14m
Completed
Sept 2012