New Science Building University of Hertfordshire, English Higher Education Architecture, Images
New Science Building at University of Hertfordshire
Campus Development in Herts, southeast England, UK – design by Sheppard Robson, Architects
11 Oct 2016
New University of Hertfordshire Science Building
Design: Sheppard Robson Architects
Location: Hertfordshire, England
Sheppard Robson completes New Science Building at the University of Hertfordshire
The assertive and precise architectural language is a marker of ambition for the campus’s future whilst supplying state-of-the art laboratory facilities for its present.
Work is complete on the 9,000 sqm Sheppard Robson-designed New Science Building, which occupies a prominent site at the heart of the University of Hertfordshire’s College Lane Campus, Hatfield. A major element of the university’s 2020 Vision, the building has been designed as a simple orthogonal structure that is derived from the cellular grid of the flexible laboratory spaces within.
Whilst optimised internally, the external envelope has been carefully finessed and tuned to signal the arrival of a major new facility at the university: a distinctive cladding system animates the building, whilst also helping the structure achieve BREEAM Excellent.
Fins – made from expanded aluminium mesh – wrap around the three solar exposed elevations of the five-storey building and act as a veil, unifying the architectural form of the structure. The regular, vertical elements allow the internal spaces to be easily and flexibly reconfigured, whilst also covering the extensive plant on the upper floor, which is required for creating the carefully controlled internal spaces required.
The façade design boosts the sustainable credentials of the project by providing solar shading whilst allowing natural light to penetrate through into the deep floorplates.
Further animating the façade, the fins change direction depending on the type of internal space, with the lab areas ranging from 300 sqm teaching spaces to more focused, specialist environments. This is a subtle variation, but when the building is viewed in bright conditions or illuminated at night, it brings a richness of depth and variation to the façade.
Cutaways from the regular shape of the building work to articulate the position of the entrance and this key access point is further emphasised by a high-level terrace above. This main entrance will align with a new prominent route through the campus, with a new vista visually connecting the building with a major new student residential development and new public space.
The entrance and outdoor terrace are also punctuated by a copper mesh that is encased in glass; this maintains the rich colour of the material which creates a dialogue with the patinated copper-coloured cladding that characterises the exterior of the building.
A feeling of robustness and quality also runs through the internal spaces. The building’s main atrium has large expanses of exposed concrete, with drama added to the main circulation space – which includes a café – through a steel cantilevered staircase.
Tony Poole, Partner at Sheppard Robson, said: “The building had to do more than provide technically excellent and controlled spaces within a box. We wanted the architectural language to be a beacon for the University’s ambitions, with a finely tuned and bold response that did not comprise on efficiency.”
New Science Building, University of Hertfordshire images / information received 111016
Sheppard Robson on e-architect
Location: Hertfordshire, south east England, UK
Hertfordshire Buildings
Hertfordshire Buildings
Hertfordshire Building Designs – selection of contemporary architectural designs:
Bronze House, Sawbridgeworth
Design: Burrell Architects
picture : Kilian O’Sullivan
Bronze House
Welwyn Garden City Housing
Design: EPR Architects
picture from architect
Housing in Hertfordshire
Biomass Power Station
Design: Hinton Cook Architects
picture from architect
Biomass Power Station
Student Forum
Design: RMJM Architects
photo : Chris Gascoigne
Hertfordshire House
Sustainable Building Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire Research Laboratory Buildings
Comments / photos for the New Science Building, University of Hertfordshire page welcome
Website: Sheppard Robson