CHARTERED ARCHITECT . CHARTERED ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGIST


NEW COLLEGE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT . HENLEY COLLEGE, COVENTRY



Planning permission had previously been granted for a first-floor extension designed in a style consistent with the existing ground floor. However, the College sought to establish a more ambitious design approach that would act as a catalyst for the wider redevelopment of the campus, rather than simply replicating what could be considered a rather uninspiring building.


The resulting design introduced a defined “slice” through the structure, ultimately forming a key link to a new entrance and a multi-storey teaching block connected to the College’s main building. The scheme marked the beginning of a broader initiative to deliver high-quality learning facilities within an environment intended to significantly enhance the educational experience.


Known as the “Blue Block” extension, the completed project revitalised this area of the campus, introducing natural light deep into both new and existing spaces and creating a variety of rooms with distinct qualities of light, scale, and atmosphere. The student area projecting into the surrounding landscape has proved particularly popular with both staff and students.


The building has since been repurposed as a training facility.


© 2026 Alan C Riley Associates. All rights reserved.