Krowji plans on display
11 July 2008
After a year of working on detailed proposals to redevelop the former Redruth Grammar School, the charity that runs the site is putting the latest plans on show to the public for a week before submitting them to council planners later this month.
Cornwall Arts Centre Trust bought the redundant buildings from Cornwall County Council back in 2005 and since then has been operating them very successfully as offices, studios and workspaces for a range of creative businesses. At the latest count there were about 55 different businesses there, with a total of about 90 people working out of a variety of old classrooms and offices.
In 2007 following a national competition and with support from Objective One and the South West Regional Development Agency, the Trust commissioned Truro-based architects Workhousedesign to produce plans for a refurbished site with a brief involving demolition of some of the more dilapidated flat-roof extensions, the retention of the two original 1907 school buildings and the construction of a series of exciting, but sustainable and affordable new spaces.
The proposals include about 30,000 square feet of new floor-space with a re-located Melting Pot café, currently in the main building, a new rehearsal space and high specification workspaces for a whole range of creative businesses from digital media to designer makers to visual artists.
The Trust's director Ross Williams said: "We're very excited about the designs that have emerged from a long period of creative collaboration between the architects, the existing and potential users of the site and our local authority and funding partners. We hope that people in Redruth will share our vision of a new life for one of the town's well-loved landmarks."
The plans go on display at Krowji - the new name for the site, meaning shed or workshop in Cornish - on Friday 11th July for a week. They will be on display in the foyer of the main building during weekdays from 9am to 5pm until Friday 18th July.