Situated next to the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) is a ground-breaking facility that educates, trains and upskills local people to create innovative factory-built new homes.  The building is a partnership between Sunderland City Council and Education Partnership North East (EPNE). It includes a purpose-built new build workshop ‘learning factory’ connected to the existing engine shed.  Designed and delivered by MawsonKerr, HICSA is an education facility that is both innovate, low carbon and net-zero ready.

‘Sunderland people are known internationally for their ability to make things – from ships in bygone years to cars today.  We now have an opportunity to be a global leader when it comes to modern methods of construction (MMC), if we put in place the right infrastructure to deliver more highly-skilled people.  The Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy will create opportunities for the people of Sunderland, and for the city itself. To carve out a new industry and to build homes that will allow it to grow its reputation as a place to live, work and play.’

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council

HICSA will create a place in which young people develop exciting new skills. Which will not only create opportunities for them, but will advance the agenda of the city when it comes to building homes using modern methods of construction that are faster to construct and deliver exemplary quality and energy efficiency standards. Ultimately provide more flexible, modern homes that respond to the changing ways in which people are living.

Ellen Thinnesen, chief executive of EPNE, which comprises Sunderland College

This is a truly innovative project and we’re really proud to be playing a part in it. Particularly because of the boost it will deliver to my home city. There is a huge opportunity for Sunderland to play a leading role in defining how homes of the future look and, through HICSA, to develop an ecosystem that will allow people from the city to build them too.

George Clarke Architect, Presenter, Founder MOBIE