Visit to the Atmos Site
That’s what you get when you take twenty-two students from KEVICC
and add directors of the Totnes Community Development Society; a
local architect and a visit to the old Dairy Crest site near Totnes Railway
Station.
In recent year group assemblies at the College, students were offered the
exciting opportunity of having a real impact on the detailed design for
the community-owned site, particularly in shaping the area earmarked
for youth activities. Twenty-two students took up the challenge and
spent a whole day thinking hard – and eating the odd biscuit!
Anna Lodge, a Director of Totnes Community Development Society
(TCDS) who were facilitating the session, said:
The work of the KEVICC
students has been really impressive. They have in-putted directly into
the project. Every student was hugely constructive in their approach to
detailed design, management of the site and generally looking at how
to integrate people of all ages within the scheme. We are grateful to all
the young people involved for their attention and creativity; they are all
a credit to this community!
Students began their day with a briefing on the development of the plans
to date and this was followed by a visit to the site. Wearing safety gear
including hard hats and high-viz jackets, the students toured the old
Dairy Crest plant with Andrew Kirby, one of the architects on the project
and Dave Chapman a Director of TCDS on hand to answer questions and
promote thought. With a clearer idea of the space involved, the students
returned to KEVICC and got down to some hard thinking. In groups, the
students identified aspects of the site of interest to them and began
considering what they would like to see in the area for young people.
Some thought about the actual design of a building, whilst others
thought about what it should contain. The day ended when the groups
shared their ideas with each other.
The site visit and the group work that followed gave the students a real
insight into the project and most were keen to continue with the work
they started earlier in February:
Shaun Rowe, a Year 9 student, said:
I found the day incredibly interesting.
It was great to work alongside architects and volunteers from the Atmos
project. I’m really excited about future opportunities to work with the
architects on the designs of the buildings.
A fellow Year 9 student, Emily Bradley agreed :
I thought it was great that
we got to go to the site. It was amazing to see the potential that is there.
I enjoyed the opportunity of coming up with ideas and developing them
with the architects.
Natalie Clark, who co-ordinated the day on behalf of KEVICC was
impressed:
Our students were given a fantastic opportunity to have their
say and get involved. They rose to the challenge!
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ThinkingOutside the Box
