DESIGN

environment. The Forum is augmented by more
enclosed learningspaces to the rear,while cosier
alcove spaces areprovided inthe ‘pods’ along the
front elevation. The mezzanine floor offers quieter,
moreintimate areas for study and social
interaction, including flexible teaching rooms.
The 2,100-square-metreTeaching Building, which
has replaced several demolished buildings,
contains large, state-of-the-artclassroomsand
lecturespaces. Aclear external route is provided
through the building to link the Plazawith
outlyingareas. The building plays asupporting
role in the ensemble of new buildings around the
Plaza, and its architectural language complements
that of the Pavilion.
The large lecturespaces areaccessed externally
from the raised colonnade. The elevations express
the steel-framed structuralgrid and make use of
multi-coloured brickworktodefine openings.
Textureand grainare provided by varyingthe
brick coursing.
The upper floor contains three large lecture
spaces. The central space has tiered seating, while
the two on either side areflat-floor, allowing
flexible furniturearrangements for different
teaching modes. The lower floor has 10 classroom
spaces of varying sizes. It is possibletojoin threeof
these to formalarge flat-floorspace for ‘scale-up’
teaching and other large-format configurations.
The high-performance acoustic partitions are
motorised and openupatthe touch of abutton.
Left
Staircase to podium level
of the Teaching Building;
nightview. The use of
generous double-height
brickcolumns allowedthe
architects to suggest a
grandscale to addressthe
Plaza. Brickwork also
enabled articulation of
the surfaces to add
textureand relief to what
wouldotherwise have
been relatively blank
elevations. Hit-and-miss
honeycombbond
brickwork allows secure
night-timeventilation
whilegiving adappled
diffused lightduring the
day. Brickalsooffered a
degreeofrobustness
externallyand internally
in this demanding
environment,while also
helping to bringurban
consistencytothe variety
of different buildings.
Glazed bricks were usedto
add acolour contrastto
the elevation of the
Pavilion. Facing bricks
were alsoused internally
in the lecturetheatres
to incorporate optimal
thermal mass andprovide
afocalwall.
Right
Brickwork paneldetails on
the Teaching Building
elevation.
10 •IBSTOCK DESIGN •AUTUMN 2016