Gainsborough: Students are given tour of Marshall’s Yard by one of its lead architects

Alison Hall with Chris Savoury from Gainsborough Academy, Lesley Rollings also from the Academy, Nigel Dawson from QEHS and Gavin Ward with the pupils who visited Marshalls Yard.

Year 9 students from Gainsborough Academy and sixth formers from Queen Elizabeth High School were given a tour of the site as well as an insight into some of the areas that were brought back to life after 20 years of the buildings lying derelict by Gavin Ward, a partner at Dixon Dawson Chartered Architects.

Gavin was one of the architects involved in the £39m project.

Gavin said: “It’s great to share with interested students how a development such as this comes about.”

“Much thought goes into the surrounding areas as well as the physical buildings and the impact the development will have on the town overall.”

“I hope we gave the students an insight into the detail and rationale behind why certain decisions were made through the planning and design stage and how we included key features in the refurbishment of the listed elements of the development.”

“That sort of design challenge, for me is what being an architect is all about.”

ment may have potentially inspired them further to follow their chosen career paths.”

The team at Marshall’s Yard were keen to engage with Gainsborough schools to use the centre as a local example of a major successful development which has remained sensitive to its setting.

The centre opened in 2007 and celebrates its 8th birthday in April.