Work is set to start later this year on the Beatrice Shilling Building, a second building for the University’s Faculty of Engineering, Electronics and Computing.
Last year saw the completion of the Broadway Malyan-designed Science and Health Building – a new central hub for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences – and the Centre for Applied Low Carbon Propulsion Systems is currently under construction.
The Beatrice Shilling Building will provide a focus for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) outreach and enterprise activities and will complement the Arup-designed ECB1, the faculty’s existing teaching block which opened in 2012, which will be linked to the new building via a new covered bridge.
The new four-storey building will a provide range of learning spaces that will include a gaming and virtual reality studio, a specialist area for 3D printing and rapid prototyping, a laser facility and physics and electronics laboratories, all designed around a full height central atrium configured to promote student and staff collaboration.
The building’s exterior will be grey brick and concrete and Andrew Goldthorpe, Associate at Broadway Malyan, said the clean and understated design approach was a response to the myriad existing styles within the university campus.
He said: “The building sits adjacent to ECB1 and the Frederick Lanchester Library, both very distinctive buildings in their own right. Our approach was to create a building that was not trying to compete with its neighbours but instead tie the different architecture together.
“The Beatrice Shilling Building will offer a different aesthetic but with a complimentary palette that offers a calming urban influence on this prominent site with a stunning interior that will deliver another world-class learning environment for the University.”
“Our approach was to create a building that was not trying to compete with its neighbours but instead tie the different architecture together.”Andrew Goldthorpe, Associate, Broadway Malyan
Ray Farmer, Academic Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing at the university, added: “This new building will allow us to expand our innovative and inspiring teaching and research spaces for students and staff in the Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing.
“Connecting the new building with our existing engineering building will allow a seamless integration of the facilities, enhancing the student experience. We are excited about the opportunities that this addition to our Faculty estate will bring.
“The new building expands our state-of-the-art facilities that will support future generations of learners. We’re delighted the council has approved the plans so we can move on to the next stage in this project.”
Construction work is expected to start this summer, and it is hoped the building will open its doors to students in autumn 2020. The project team also includes project managers RPS Group, planning consultants GVA, cost managers Gardiner and Theobald, structural engineers CWA and building services engineers Ramboll.
