University of Nottingham Agricultural Campus, Nottingham, United Kingdom

Make wins University of Nottingham comp

Make architects has won a competition to design a new building for The University of Nottingham’s agricultural campus at Sutton Bonington. The landmark building, with a value of £5million, is the first stage of a new masterplan commissioned by the University to consolidate and enhance facilities on the campus. Make won the OJEU competition to design a new building for the School of Veterinary, Medical and Sciences together with the School of Biosciences, to house a mixture of laboratories and office space. The brief is to provide a visionary new identity for the campus befitting its status as a leading educational establishment and assist in transforming the site into a wholly sustainable and people focused development.

Work will begin in March on the planning application for the new 3,100sqm building which is designed to be sensitive to its rural setting, yet with a future-proof infrastructure for the researchers, academics and students who will use it daily.

Make’s design was chosen for its highly flexible floorplates and impressive sustainable credentials which include locally sourced materials such as timber and pre-fabricated straw panels.

David Patterson said: “The changing environment is a key challenge for today and one in which architecture and the built environment plays a crucial role. It is refreshing therefore to have a client so willing to tackle these challenges in a proactive way. The Sutton Bonington site presents the perfect opportunity to marry high-tech facilities with a rural location which we have embraced within the design. We are looking forward to getting started.”

Tim Brooksbank, Development Director at The University of Nottingham’s Estate Department, said: “The team led by Make showed real insight into the aims of the University and the requirements of this new building. The design is stunningly simple and will set a new standard for future development on the campus.”

The development is expected to take two years to complete. The design team comprises Couch Perry Wilkes, Price and Myers, Sand Project Management and WSP.

Make completed three buildings, landscaping and the UK’s tallest sculpture for The University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus in Summer 2008.
source: www.worldarchitecturenews.com
architecture NOW