Darwen Academy era about to dawn (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Can I have my house back now or should I sit where it used to be?
By the way, hope your giant cheese replica creation was worth it...when all the scrotes are shoplifting, being run over and causing mayhem.

Time will tell if this has all been worth it.
Lets hope it helps regenerates the immediate area.

Great photograph.

Is there going to be an open day for everyone to have a gander, like there was with the leisure centre?

I see this on my way to work and think
"What the hell were they thinking when they built this monstrosity?"
I'm sorry, I'm all for raising standards in education and making sure they have appropriate facilities to do this in, but have you seen the state? The front of the building is like a giant mirror and driving past it in the sun is like being given impromtu lazer eye surgery. Also, I was led to believe that the building would be developed to blend in with it's surroundings. Now, the last time I looked, Darwen was an industrial town, reknowned for cotton! That place looks as if it should have been in IRobot! It's so futuristic it sticks out like a sore thumb.
One final gripe (well until something else comes up) why have they put grass on top of the building??? Is it extra sports facilities (I somehow doubt it), an attempt at being green and keeping the heat in and not letting it escape through the roof or is it to make the building blend in with the countruside and it's surroundings from above? I'm not being funny, but it's not the roof they need to disguise!

OBT2 wrote:
I see this on my way to work and think
"What the hell were they thinking when they built this monstrosity?"
I'm sorry, I'm all for raising standards in education and making sure they have appropriate facilities to do this in, but have you seen the state? The front of the building is like a giant mirror and driving past it in the sun is like being given impromtu lazer eye surgery. Also, I was led to believe that the building would be developed to blend in with it's surroundings. Now, the last time I looked, Darwen was an industrial town, reknowned for cotton! That place looks as if it should have been in IRobot! It's so futuristic it sticks out like a sore thumb.
One final gripe (well until something else comes up) why have they put grass on top of the building??? Is it extra sports facilities (I somehow doubt it), an attempt at being green and keeping the heat in and not letting it escape through the roof or is it to make the building blend in with the countruside and it's surroundings from above? I'm not being funny, but it's not the roof they need to disguise!

Well everyone's entitled to their opinion, but I for one think it looks great, like a 21st century building should do, and much as I like old architecture, building a new academy that looked like the India Mill or the old Tech would have looked just as out of place and would have been cost prohibitive.
Why put grass on the roof? Why not?

It is an eyesore and I doubt it is built to stand the test of time but that's only my opinion, I am sure many people like it and it is certainly modern looking if nothing else.

I just hope that the GCSE results carry on getting better and better!

OBT2 wrote:
I see this on my way to work and think
"What the hell were they thinking when they built this monstrosity?"
I'm sorry, I'm all for raising standards in education and making sure they have appropriate facilities to do this in, but have you seen the state? The front of the building is like a giant mirror and driving past it in the sun is like being given impromtu lazer eye surgery. Also, I was led to believe that the building would be developed to blend in with it's surroundings. Now, the last time I looked, Darwen was an industrial town, reknowned for cotton! That place looks as if it should have been in IRobot! It's so futuristic it sticks out like a sore thumb.
One final gripe (well until something else comes up) why have they put grass on top of the building??? Is it extra sports facilities (I somehow doubt it), an attempt at being green and keeping the heat in and not letting it escape through the roof or is it to make the building blend in with the countruside and it's surroundings from above? I'm not being funny, but it's not the roof they need to disguise!

moan, moan, moan, moan, moan, moan, moan! I'm depressed after reading that. Darwen was renowned for cotton - a long time ago, as was Manchester! Darwen is also renowned for wallcoverings, paint and perspex. By your reasoning, they could have built the academy to resemble a large paint pot, made out of perspex and wallpapered the classrooms. Re. the reflections, I suggest a pair of sunglasses. Regarding the grass on the roof, it's an "eco feature" now included in many modern buildings.

I think the building is smart and a step in the right direction for the town which has long since been stuck in the distant past.

I also love a lot of the old building in darwen too and they should stay. some excellent examples of architecture are on show in the town centre.

But I get confused why people always moan about something new being built in the town?

This academy is what the town needs. hopefully it will produce brighter and more socially responsible children and you can then all stop moaning about feral youngster roaming the streets......

I just hope the children and their parents appreciate the opportunity which has been made available to them slap bang in the middle of town.

And the photograph IS great.