The Royal National College for the Blind is the UK’s leading college of further education for people with sight loss. The masterplanning process identified the need for a complementary therapy centre, sports building, teaching space and associated accommodation.
We developed the client brief with the stakeholders, including a number of workshops with students and athletes.

The scheme includes a number of subtle way-finding and tactile indicators for visually impaired users. The design of the sports hall includes a unique acoustic treatment to mimic playing on an outdoor pitch – essential for Blind Football.

The centre is the home of the English Blind Football Squad and hosted the 2010 World Blind Football Championships.

The centre was also a training centre for the 2012 Paralympics.