Sentamu Teaching Block, University of Cumbria

Providing occupation for over 600 students and located within the heart of the existing historic campus, the Sentamu Teaching Block provides the University of Cumbria, its students and wider community with a suite of flexible higher education teaching facilities to meet the demands of the developing and anticipated curriculum alongside the wider estates strategy plan.

The design re-engineers the existing and closed urban grain to provide an open yet integrated campus from which students and staff can navigate in a sustainable, efficient and exciting environment.

jmarchitects were appointed to review design solutions and provide lead coordination with the principal contractor and design team, delivering architectural services encompassing RIBA work stages 3-7

Date

2017

Client

University of Cumbria

Value

£5.2m

The University of Cumbria , Bowerham Road Campus, is located to the south east of Lancaster. The campus consists of a large expanse of open green amenity space with a concentration of building development to the south of the site. Historically the site was the Bowerham Barracks, established in 1880 for the Kings Own Royal Lancashire Regiment. The proposed teaching block is the first new build proposals generated from the new master plan.

Delivered and coordinated to the principles of BIM Level 2, the three storey 2,500m² teaching block responds to the brief for new and flexible teaching spaces set in a historic and natural context on a restrictive and constrained site. The ground floor is dominated by an inviting entrance foyer, leading directly off the quad. The foyer gives access into a 220 seat lecture theatre. A space which will be used on a daily basis by the university and as a resource which can be leased to external organisations.

The foyer also provides access to the stair well, open plan social learning spaces, vending / café area, WC’s and a large number of flexible and high quality environment general teaching spaces. The external materials have been selected to fit within the context. The buff brick references and is sympathetic to the surrounding sandstone buildings. The timber effect cladding panels create a contemporary infusion to the campus and connection with the park land setting and surrounding mature trees.

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