Whitehead Building Goldsmiths, London Higher Education Design, British Project Photos
Whitehead Building Goldsmiths
University of London Architecture Development design by A-EM Studio architects
11 Jun 2009
Location: University of London, England, UK
Design: A-EM Studio Ltd
Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award Finalist 2009
Whitehead Building Goldsmiths at University of London
About the project
Whitehead Building Goldsmiths, London
A-EM was approached by Goldsmiths to re-clad a deteriorating 1960s building. Early in discussions it became clear that A-EM’s imaginative design and use of materials could be applied to two further buildings for the same budget.
The brief was reworked to also include an administrative link block and a brick-clad lecture theatre. The aim was to externally refurbish all three buildings, retaining primary structural elements, but to bring them together as an integrated whole.
The buildings have been tied together visually by a horizontal line at the level set by the top of the lecture theatre. Below this line a ‘plinth’ is formed, finished in high performance dark cladding. Above the line a white render is used, so the taller building appears to perch lightly on the base below. New full-height glazing creates internal circulation and breakout spaces.
New aluminium windows cut into the facades form continuous horizontal slots. They are tilt and turn windows, encouraging natural ventilation. Thermal performance is enhanced by new roof insulation, applied across all the buildings.
The existing building stock has been reinvigorated economically and sustainably – and with great panache.
Judges’ comment
“Economy, and economy of design thinking, have given Goldsmiths’ buildings a new lease of life.”
Whitehead Building Goldsmiths – Building Information
Client: Goldsmiths, University of London
Principal designer: A-EM Studio Ltd
Structural engineer: Akera Engineers
Services engineer: Cundall
Principal contractor: Como Group
Contract value: £2 million
Address: Goldsmiths, University of London, 316 New Cross Road, London SE14 6AF
Contact: 020 7919 7171
Location: 316 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6AF, England, UK
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