We began work with the University of Gloucestershire in 1998 with a commission to produce a masterplan for a new campus on a 15 acre brownfield site on the edge of the city centre. Its educational hub comprises a Learning Centre and Sports Science Faculty and student housing for 175 is provided by a series of four storey linked villas.

The Learning Centre provides space for 300 computer workstations, a series of flexible teaching spaces and a lecture theatre for 200 people. The Sports Science Building contains laboratories and teaching spaces and a large sports hall for teaching, training and competitive events.

Issues of sustainability were prioritised in the design of the new buildings. The ‘waveform’ roof of the Sports Science Building admits north light to reduce artificial lighting loads and its south-facing roof slopes are clad with photovoltaic cells The energy-efficient systems were part-funded by the EUBART programme and the DTI’s research-focussed ETSU programme. The scheme also utilises a ground source heat pump, termodeck ventilation and high levels of daylighting, unusual in most sports facilities.

The next phase was the student accommodation, and in 2005 we were appointed to design a new teaching and an extension of the Sports Science Building to provide a dedicated space suitable for national level badminton, along with a fitness suite arranged over two linked storeys. A ground source heat pump provides for space heating within this part of the campus.

Client: University of Gloucestershire

Construction value: £20,000,000

Completion: September 2007

"From its inception, this scheme was designed with sustainability as a key component. The campus's environmental credentials are excellent, with low energy consumption and environmental control as major objectives."
Civic Trust Sustainability Award 2003

“Higher Education buildings are tight budgets as we all know. Here ‘the money’ has been expertly designed with, giving the right emphasis in the right place.”
RIBA Awards 2003