Orchard Hall was constructed at the same time as the adjacent Point 4 Sports and Complementary Therapy centre. The scheme supports the college’s aims to promote independent living for students. It involved the demolition of an existing outdated accommodation block and replacing it with a purpose-built building designed specifically for the visually impaired.

To understand how the visually impaired move around their environments members of the design team took part in a shortened version of the new-student orientation which included simulation of various visual impairments.

The scheme is fully accessible and introduced several key design elements to aid wayfinding for example, using planting with distinct smells next to entrances.