- Client Name:
- The University of Cumbria
- Awards:
- Civic Trust Commendation
Brampton Road Campus, Carlisle, £2.7m
Architects Plus have been involved in several projects for the University of Cumbria over the last 20 years.
The Brampton Road Campus project in Carlisle, involved the redevelopment of the existing teaching and learning spaces. The facilities included a new library, a new refectory serving over 1000 students and staff, three purpose built lecture theatres, a 200 seat flexible studio theatre a dance studio, digital recording and music facilities, and computer learning resource areas. The overall design successfully amalgamated a series of poorly functioning disparate buildings with new, enabling the campus to be effectively utilised and explored as a whole. The project was planned over a series of phases to allow for the campus to function effectively.
The central library building with vaulted roof provided the central focal point for the scheme from which to navigate. This radically reorganised the circulation routes between a series of new breakout spaces.
The studio theatre, named ‘Stanwix Theatre’ is now regarded as a premier performance space for the city that is home to over 70 productions each year. All of the works alongside its updated visual appearance provided a new image suited to a progressive arts institute.
Fusehill Street Campus, Carlisle, Cumbria, £4.7m
The Fusehill Street Campus project in Carlisle incorporates a 150 seated lecture theatre, a series of seminar rooms and extensive, open and flexible resource desk areas accessible via an open centrally top lit atria space and acts as the primary circulation between spaces.
This new building provides modern flexible use spaces with the necessary wi-fi, hot desking, and web-conference facilities. This provides students and tutors with high quality learning areas to engage in discussions, receive support from peers and tutors, whilst submit assignments and receive feedback. It also provides a facility for students to effectively meet, discuss and collaborate on assignments either remotely or on campus, particularly where joint assignments are an essential part of the course.
The building used extensive glazing allowing the activities to be seen, and the full height atria space provides an open and light interior. The building was designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating a natural ventilation strategy that has proven to be maintenance free and very economical to run.