Aspiring architectural technologists at New College Lanarkshire are gaining hands-on industry experience through a collaboration with Ravenscraig Limited. Students worked on development proposals for Plot E7, a key site adjacent to the college's Motherwell campus at Ravenscraig.
Real-World Project for HND Students
As part of their Graded Unit 2, HND computer aided architectural design and technology students were tasked with creating a master plan for a hotel and retail/leisure-led scheme on Plot E7. A panel of industry professionals visited the college to review initial concepts and provide feedback.
Attendees included Russell Wilkie, director at Ravenscraig Limited; Ricky MacDonald and Heather MacSween from Keppie Design; and Michael Smart, development director for Crucible Developments. Following feedback, students refined their ideas, developing three concept proposals each before selecting one for a detailed hotel design.
Prize Ceremony and Top Students
Keppie Design hosted a prize giving ceremony at their Glasgow office, where the top three students received Amazon vouchers from Ravenscraig. Poppy McCubbing secured £500 for first place, Colin Campbell was awarded £150 for second place, and Myles McDougall received £100 for third place.
Design Inspiration and Sustainability
Drawing inspiration from Ravenscraig’s industrial heritage as a former steelworks, some students incorporated metal cladding to echo oxidised steel, while others introduced curved façades symbolising the flow of molten metal. Sustainability played a central role, with biophilic design features such as living walls, green roofs, and landscaped surroundings integrated into their concepts. Additional elements included rooftop terraces, spa and gym facilities, skylights, and bold architectural forms.
Industry and Academic Praise
Christopher Moore, principal and chief executive of New College Lanarkshire, said: "Projects like this are invaluable in preparing our students for the realities of the industry. Working on a live development site such as Ravenscraig gives them the opportunity to apply their learning in a meaningful way, while engaging directly with leading professionals. We are proud of the creativity, professionalism and ambition our students have demonstrated throughout this project."
Russell Wilkie, director at Ravenscraig Limited, added: "It’s been fantastic to see the level of thought, innovation and enthusiasm the students have brought to this project. Ravenscraig has a rich history and an exciting future as we deliver the masterplan. The site the students focused on is designated to retail and leisure and it’s inspiring to see the next generation of designers contributing creative ideas for what this might be. Initiatives like this are a great example of how industry can collaborate with education to help inspire and shape talent for the future."
Ricky MacDonald, director of Keppie Design, said: "Working with the students has been a really rewarding process, particularly seeing how they respond to professional critique and develop their ideas. This project has given students a genuine insight into that evolving design process. The standard of thinking has been impressive, especially in how they’ve balanced creativity with practical considerations like buildability, user experience and sustainability."
