Derbyshire rail innovation centre completes

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) is delighted to announce that the Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle (DRIIVe), the ambitious modern rail innovation and training centre at Chesterfield, has reached completion. SGP was the delivery architect for this prestigious scheme, which will support a network of specialist training providers and offer rail-related education from level two through to postgraduate training and research.

DRIIVe is part of the multi-million-pound Staveley Town Deal programme and has also received additional funding from Chesterfield Borough Council and East Midlands Combined County Authority. It was delivered by Chesterfield Borough Council in collaboration with Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society, with complete construction partner Stepnell Ltd carrying out construction of the building.

Working closely with Stepnell, SGP’s role as delivery architect included making widespread revisions to the previously designed scheme to improve buildability and compliance.

Explains Liam Mottishaw, Associate at SGP: “We are proud to have helped deliver this prestigious project on a sensitive and complicated site. Our role on the project was to maintain the quality and ambition of the existing design whilst improving the practical build requirements and value for the client. Our revisions, such as “straightening” the main building to avoid encroaching too close to a protected coal stage embankment, ensured the smooth completion of this inspirational project.”

The new building connects to existing railway lines, which have been realigned, and nestled between the existing buildings and the historic coal stage. The exterior materials, an anthracite grey vertical cladding which continues into the roof, were chosen to harmonise with the industrial setting and complement the local vernacular. A mix of roof lights, ribbon windows and vertical glazing add interest to the exterior whilst bringing in the maximum amount of sunlight.

The contemporary building provides classroom and training areas, specialist research and development facilities including a digital laboratory, and commercial workshop space. The new centre aims to cement Chesterfield as a prominent location for the rail industry. By year five DRIIVe aims to support around 270 trainees, supporting local people to access highly skilled careers in the industry.  

Mediating between the client, contractor and architecture team, SGP Interiors were tasked with pulling together the FFE and finishes whilst aligning with the DRIIVe branding guidelines and ethos, whilst simultaneously enhancing the scheme to provide flexibility, longevity and comfort for an undefined end user. Where some may have found this challenging, our team thrived in curating a scheme that was both sympathetic to the wide-ranging user demographic and ages as well as conscious of the commercial requirements and constraints of the project.