The Design Technology Centre was built in 1984 and has already been refurbished twice in its life to keep pace with the curricular developments in this rapidly moving subject area. There is considerable breadth within its resources so that the electronic enthusiast, for example, is supported just as much as the jewellery designer.
Design Studios CAD/CAM Facilities Accessibility
The facility is relatively compact and provides two dedicated design studios that open directly onto two linked multi–material workshops.
Glazed partitions are used extensively within the structure of the building to ease the transition between the clean design areas and the workshops. Pupils are encouraged to move between the different zones according to need.
One design studio is dedicated to work of a graphic nature whilst the other also includes extensive resources for work in electronics.
Whilst traditional workshop activity is well catered for, the College has made a significant investment in equipment for CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture). Workshops include two computer controlled routers, a CNC lathe, two CNC vinyl cutters and a CNC engraver. These items of equipment are all accessible to the pupils and in many respects represent the future of Design Technology.
CAD/CAM equipment is of little value without good access to computer facilities. A bank of CAD equipped computers sits in an air conditioned, fully glazed room right at the heart of the building. This area is usually the centre of frenetic activity and represents the hub supporting the vast bulk of product manufacture.
Whilst the majority of work produced within Design Technology is linked to coursework, the Centre is open outside formal hours during the week and on Sunday afternoons to support individual project activity. Taster courses for Lower School pupils encourage creativity in areas such as jewellery design, enamelling, funky furniture, radios and go- kart construction.