Architecture for Higher Education
Our experience in Higher Education covers faculty buildings, libraries, student accommodation, unions and specialist research buildings, as well as estate strategies, masterplans and city campuses. We bring knowledge of evolving themes in learning, teaching and student life and enjoy collaborating on the design of bespoke, innovative and stimulating environments.
Hugo Marrack is our Higher Education lead.
Campus Planning
Our extensive experience of creating transformational masterplans for universities is led by strong architectural and public realm ideas, and shaped by our sensitive understanding of the heritage and existing environment. We listen to the university’s requirements, and take a practical and aspirational view that gives a framework for future development.
Teaching and learning
Teaching and learning buildings are at the heart of University education. They need to be strong enough in character to be able to enable and manage change in both use and pedagogy, and withstand that with integrity. Our buildings are designed to be welcoming places that draw students and staff to campus. They are designed to provide flexible and adaptive spaces that can efficiently support learning now and into the future.
Specialist spaces
Whether providing a suite for movement capture, a teaching kitchen, a club rooms that can accommodate drone flight or acoustically separated concert halls, we know that the quality of specialist spaces is intrinsic to the teaching of STEAM subjects. Whether retrofitting and remodeling existing buildings or dealing with complex site restraints, we enjoy the challenge of producing technically excellent buildings that encourage learning, collaboration and community.
As well as standing out as the University’s flagship building, [The Catalyst Building] has quickly become fundamental to the way we operate and has set a high standard for all future projects.
Sally McGill, Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, Staffordshire University
Student Accommodation
More than just a place to sleep, student housing can play a huge social role in the student experience. Our recent projects have delivered well-designed rooms with access to high-quality shared amenities, and value for money for universities and providers.
Social spaces
A University provides much more than an education. The spaces in between provide a host of important social and pastoral services and are important touchdown points within the campus.
LIbraries
University libraries are responding to changing patterns of usage and service delivery, diversifying from books and journals to digital learning resources and new ways of sharing information. From libraries that are the focus of the campus, to new models including click and collect outposts of the main library and collaborations with Local Authority libraries, our libraries are spaces for research, study and exploring new ideas.