The Church Site, Slough, United Kingdom

3DReid release details of their proposals for a new cultural hub in Slough
Located on The Church Site, this project forms an integral part of the overall "Heart of Slough" masterplan revealed by English Partnerships.
Located just 20 miles west of London, and more importantly, only five from Heathrow Airport, Slough is becoming accepted as the gateway to the UK for tens of thousands of immigrants, most from the former eastern european countries. Many stay on and this huge influx is forcing Slough into the front line, facing up to the challenges presented by the post cold war multi-cultural “New Britain”. The town has to move fast to ensure the cultural integration of its diverse communities and this project will no doubt play a central role.
The building, for Slough Borough Council, will accommodate a new library, museum, a central Adult learning facility and a Café. In addition, the development provides a valuable opportunity to regenerate the public realm of the area and a new garden square will form the focus of this, providing both a suitable setting to the adjacent church and new architecture and a high quality environment for the local community and visitors.
Matthew Bedward, Design Director at 3DReid, said: “The design will create an architecturally uplifting space offering modern, state-of-the-art facilities to the people of Slough and beyond. The building is planned to engage the community and help foster creativity, knowledge and learning. The concept sets out to create an identifiable and distinctive place within the town centre focused around a sculptural civic building”
Richard Fairhead, Divisional Director at 3DReid, added: “Internally, the scheme will provide a high quality environment using innovative design and materials creating a simple integrated structural solution promoting low energy consumption and carbon emissions. The building will be flexible, robust and adaptable providing a high degree of future proofing against changes in use and the external climate.”
The project team includes Fitton Associates as Project Manager, Buro Happold as Engineer, Gardiner & Theobald as Cost consultant and Turley Associates as Planning consultant.

architecture NOW