Race Cottam Architects
Exterior view of the entrance elevation to CAPA College with a striking geometric façade, featuring vertical standing seam grey metal cladding and large featurer windows. The multi-storey structure sits behind landscaped planting, with a bold, modern entrance marked by signage at ground level.Exterior view of the entrance elevation to CAPA College with a striking geometric façade, featuring vertical standing seam grey metal cladding and large featurer windows. The multi-storey structure sits behind landscaped planting, with a bold, modern entrance marked by signage at ground level.

CAPA College Wakefield

A specialist performing arts college bringing education in dance, drama, music, media and production together in the heart of Wakefield.

Overhead view of the main theatre space with a group of young people and a teachers gathered in a circle on a large, stepped seating area. The space features dark tiered platforms, high ceilings, with a tensile grid ceiling to give access for lighting rigs.
Spacious modern ground floor cafe with exposed ceiling services, featuring flexible seating, large tables, and abundant natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking greenery.
Large group of students gathered outside CAPA College entrance. Students are sitting and standing together on steps in front of a glass façade with the bold vertical CAPA sign in silver above tthem.
Overhead view of the students performing in the double height dance studio. Studetns are moving across the bright, open studio space with a light grey floor with full height opaque glazing behind them that is letting a diffused light through.
View of one of the upper teaching and collaboration areas. Students are collaborating around a table in a bright classroom, working on laptops and discussing their work, while a teacher stands in the background guiding the lesson. against full height of glazed curtian walling
Image of the new central auditorium with tiered seating, dark finishes, and overhead lighting rigs and tensile grid, designed for performances and assemblies in a flexible, theatre-style space.
Night-time view of the front elevation of Capa College with illuminated signage and large glazed windows revealing interior silhouettes, creating a striking presence against the dark sky.

Project info

This purpose-built facility designed as a dynamic home for the performing arts has enabled the college’s growth from 250 to 500 students, Providing industry-standard studios, workshops and a central 150-seat theatre the building is designed to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Developed through close engagement with staff and technical specialists, the design addresses complex acoustic and spatial requirements while responding to a prominent gateway site in the heart of Wakefield. A “black box” concept is enlivened by glazed façades that reveal internal activity. Public amenities, including a café, terrace and amphitheatre, create an accessible cultural hub, broadening participation in the arts and contributing to Wakefield’s civic and creative life.

Location

Wakefield

Date

Completed 2022

Client

DfE / CAPA College
Morgan Sindall Construction

Services

Architecture
Interior Design

Cost

£9 million

Area

4,748 sq.m

Main Contractor

Morgan Sindall Construction

Team

Adept Consulting Engineers
Mott MacDonald
Couch Perry Wilkes,
AGM Landscape

Awards

Nominated for ‘The Award for Best use of Arts, Culture or Sport in Placemaking’, Planning Awards 2023

Finalist 'Project of the Year'- Education Estates

Winner of 'Best New Development', Wakefield Civic Society Design Award 2023

Our Team

Pauline Lake
Mark Eden
Amy Paget

‘We are so thrilled with the new building. From the exceptional rehearsal and performance spaces to the technical workshops and classrooms, Race Cottam worked tirelessly to bring the new home of CAPA College to life. This really is a building that our students, staff, alumni, visitors and participants can be proud of. Our vision was to create a new flagship centre for Arts Education in the North of England and from our new base in the heart of Wakefield we can make this dream a reality’

Claire Nicholson Principal, CAPA College

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