Confetti Digital Media Hub

Creating a flagship education building for one of Nottingham's leading creative institutions

Following Confetti's integration into Nottingham Trent University, Allan Joyce Architects was appointed to design a landmark digital media hub that would support the institution's ambitious expansion plans and create an inspiring new home for the next generation of creative talent.

The new building provides state-of-the-art teaching facilities, social spaces and student resources while establishing a striking new entrance to the Confetti campus.

The Brief

Confetti required a new education building to accommodate significant student growth while enhancing the overall campus experience.

The project needed to:

• Support an additional 700 students.
• Create high-quality teaching and technical facilities.
• Improve student welfare through enhanced social and catering spaces.
• Deliver a welcoming and accessible campus entrance.
• Connect seamlessly with neighbouring Victorian buildings.
• Establish a flagship building that reflected Confetti's creative identity.

The Design

Our design responds to both Confetti's innovative culture and the rich industrial heritage of Nottingham's Creative Quarter.

A dramatic first-floor cantilever creates a bold architectural statement above the glazed entrance, giving the campus a distinctive identity within the city while improving wayfinding for students and visitors.

Externally, CorTen steel complements the surrounding Victorian brick buildings, while perforated metal screens, textured brickwork and carefully considered detailing reference the digital industries that Confetti represents.

Inside, generous double-height spaces, exposed concrete finishes and extensive glazing create a contemporary learning environment filled with natural light. The building provides a central café, a modern learning resource centre with secure digital facilities and multiple floors of specialist digital media and creative technology teaching spaces.

Delivering a Complex City Centre Project

Located on a constrained brownfield site, the project presented several technical and logistical challenges.

Early enabling works included asbestos removal, demolition of existing buildings and archaeological investigations that uncovered a historically significant medieval cave network beneath the site. These works were carefully coordinated to minimise programme risk and enable construction to progress efficiently.

The project was delivered under a Design and Build procurement route, with Allan Joyce Architects developing key technical design information prior to tender to safeguard design quality throughout construction.

Our role included:

• Technical design development.
• Consultant coordination.
• BREEAM design-stage coordination.
• Sustainability, maintenance and operational strategies.
• Contractor design coordination during construction.

The project achieved a BREEAM Outstanding design-stage rating, reflecting its commitment to sustainability and long-term building performance.

The Result

The completed Confetti Digital Media Hub has transformed the campus, providing an inspiring and accessible environment for thousands of students studying creative technologies, digital media and design.

As well as significantly increasing teaching capacity, the building has established a strong new identity for the institution, creating a contemporary landmark that complements its historic surroundings while supporting future growth.

The project demonstrates Allan Joyce Architects' expertise in designing education buildings that balance architectural quality, technical complexity, sustainability and exceptional user experience.