New Academic Building

Design and Function

The New Academic Building has been designed to be eye-catching and attractive, but also to blend in with the surrounding College Green aesthetic. Views of the building will be reduced during summer months by the existing tall mature trees. During winter months the building will become visible through the gauze of tree branches.

The transparency of the glass frontage will reduce the building's apparent size and with the glass wall set back at third floor level, the building proportions are further reduced. Proportions of the elevations are designed to reflect the existing rectilinear buildings that surround the Green.

The building is bespoke and, as such, the space has been designed with its function in mind. In order to minimise the overall height of the building, it is proposed that a basement be excavated to allow for rooms requiring double height, such as lecture theatres and studios. The proposed external materials for the building are light colour render, grey 'slate' cladding and brown copper (or similar) cladding to the front section.

Views out from the concourse area are restricted to face outward across the Green.