Stansted Airport College

The first of its kind in the UK, the specialist college will train the next generation of airport personnel

Stansted Airport College is the result of a highly successful collaborative relationship between Pascall+Watson, Harlow College and the airport operator.

Located to the west of the existing runway, the specialist facility offers aviation-related qualifications and apprenticeships for up to 500 students each year, underpinning the airports’ ambitious plans for growth.

Courses on offer are specifically chosen to bridge the regional skills gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects as well as specific roles in aircraft and airport engineering, business studies, logistics and supply chain management, asset management, hospitality and customer service.

The architecture of the college is deliberately simple and functional. Teaching spaces have been organised around a central ‘spine’ running the length of the building to create an environment that is conducive to group learning.

To respond to its particularly challenging setting, adjacent to a major operational runway, the ‘sealed’ building envelope isolates the internal spaces from the external environment to keep out unwanted noise and aviation fumes.