Bowman Riley Architects designed a striking new Arts Centre at Outwood Grange Academy in Wakefield providing cutting-edge facilities to performing and visual arts students. In recent years, the Academy has seen major redevelopment work improving college grounds, buildings and facilities to accommodate its burgeoning student population and update the estate. The new £6.5m Sir Michael Wilkins Arts Centre features a multi-purpose flexible performance space, art studios, galleries and state of the art music recording studios, which will not only be used for teaching and performing spaces but also allow collaborative working with visiting arts practitioners and community use. Working in close partnership with the Academy, Bowman Riley’s design for The Arts Centre was carefully considered as part of the wider master planning of an already intensely occupied site to ensure the building would not hinder future developments at the Academy. The Arts Centre was designed to maximise all available space within this 32,000 ft2 site, to ensure the best value from the Academy’s investment. Several major challenges were successfully incorporated within the design, including grouting underground, large changes in level, retaining wall structures and car parking, all within a difficult mining area site. The design has established a special identity for the Centre, for and within the greater community, and providing a city vista over Wakefield. “We are delighted The Arts Centre has now opened. It provides students and visiting artists with world-class facilities that enables the arts to flourish at the Academy and is an important development in the estates strategy to provide the best learning environments.” Julie Slater, executive principal, Outwood Grange Academies Trust.