University of Plymouth appoints award-winning architects to work on new Engineering and Design facility

The University of Plymouth has appointed an internationally award-winning architectural practice to create an iconic new Engineering and Design facility on the western edge of its main campus.

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios has previously won the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2008 for housing development Accordia, and two RIBA National Awards in 2019 for its work on the Southbank Centre and Alexandra Palace’s East Wing and Victorian Theatre.

It also has extensive experience in the Higher Education sector, having worked with clients including the University of London, and universities of Bristol, Sheffield and Southampton.

The architects will now work with the University to develop an inspirational and innovative new home for its School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics and additional space for the School of Art, Design and Architecture.

The facility will involve a dedicated new-build component and refurbishment of the 1970s Babbage Building, creating more than 10,000m² of research and teaching space.

It will combine re-equipped laboratories with modern, state-of-the-art resources that will enable engineering research to underpin the fourth industrial revolution, while creating the attractive environment necessary to attract and retain high-calibre staff and students.

The cutting-edge building will inspire new inter-disciplinary activities in teaching, learning and research, and nurture the innovative graduate engineers demanded by future society.

It will incorporate low carbon technologies, supporting the aims of both the University and company to achieve net zero carbon emissions and promote world-leading sustainability practices.

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios was awarded the design contract following a competitive dialogue process, managed by RIBA Competitions, which received applications from practices across the UK.

For that, they created an eye-catching concept design which would transform the western edge of the main campus, complementing the state-of-the art Marine Building opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 2012 and supporting the opening-up of the campus to form an attractive central green space as part of the overall masterplan.

More than half of new-build homes are too small to meet the needs of the people who live in them, according to a new RIBA report published on 3rd Dec 2019:

The report, entitled #HomeWise – Space Standards for Homes, suggests homes being built in the UK are still too small for families to live in comfortably.

The latest survey of UK homes found that on average a new three-bedroom home is missing 4m² of floor space – the size of a family bathroom – while the smallest homes were missing the space equivalent to a double bedroom.