The new building will bring together the Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health and the Nuffield Department of Population Health as part of a strategic investment in this area with the aim of further strengthening their expertise. The University of Oxford already has the largest concentration of Global Health activity in the UK, and possibly the world, with research strengths ranging across the breadth of disciplines enabling it to progress the equality of health outcomes globally.

The 4,700sq.m project will deliver state-of-the-art facilities for 400 staff, and act as a landing place and home for Global Health activities across the University. Through clustering of Oxford’s Global Health activities, the building will provide modern, flexible space that will help to break down current silos, provide a focal point for engagement with external stakeholders, embed education and training firmly alongside research, promote interaction, collaboration, and innovation and enable growth.

Associated Architects Director James Hall said:

“We’re delighted to have received approval from the planning committee for this exciting project. The building aims to create an environment that facilitates collaboration and engagement across disciplinary and divisional boundaries – from long-term links with major strategic partners to serendipitous interactions between individual researchers and students.

Sustainability is a key driver for the new facility and it’s designed for Passivhaus certification. Low energy design measures are incorporated throughout, and the team have carried out embodied and operational carbon assessments. This is the University’s first use of a Life Cycle Carbon Assessment (LCA).

 

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Winning in the Healthcare category, The Green at St Richard’s Hospice infilled a large central courtyard to create a flexible multi-functional “buzz” area in a central location, where most of the wellness activities are clustered. A contemporary form of Winter Garden has been created using the tree-like language of the entrance canopy to form its dramatic timber roof structure. The architectural character grows from the vision and values of the Hospice, with daylight-filled spaces and natural materials used throughout to create a warm and uplifting, hope-filled architecture.

The design uses laminated timber to create strong architectural tree-like columns defining a spectacular new top-lit space at the heart of the Hospice, roofed with off-site fabricated timber coffers. The abstracted timber trees are repeated in a new warm and welcoming entrance, overcoming the challenges of confused and constrained existing buildings. The new building has minimal energy and carbon footprint, near-Passivhaus performance, and a pioneering use of healthy building materials. Avoiding any institutional or overly medical character, these combine to create subtle gentle and uplifting architecture with a variety of humane, distinctive, and intimate spaces.

St Richard’s Hospice Chief Executive, June Patel said, “There is a tranquillity and beauty in the design which has an instant impact on people the moment they step into the building. Enormous thought has gone into creating spaces which are uplifting, light, and healthy environments – instantly promoting wellbeing.”

Team:

• St Richard’s Hospice
• Constructional Timber
• Shire Consulting
• Couch Perry Wilkes
• Speller Metcalfe
• Carlton Smith

Additionally, Cyber Quarter was Highly Commended in the Commercial Project of the Year category, and in the Engineer of the Year category for Ramboll. It is a trailblazing multi-purpose centre of excellence in a highly sustainable building, utilising a CLT frame, timber finishes, and striking glulam structure. Located within Skylon Business Park’s Enterprise Zone in the leafy outskirts of Hereford, the building is constructed using a glulam and CLT frame of Silver Fir, Larch, and Spruce from managed sources, with a high quality exposed visual timber finish. It is extremely sustainable with very low-embodied carbon – the full CLT and glulam hybrid structure has sequestered 30 tonnes of CO2e (the equivalent steel/concrete equivalent would have emitted 563 tonnes of CO2e). Timber is used as the visual language throughout to create a natural aesthetic both inside and out that provides a calming and inspirational environment for working and collaboration throughout. Through a collaborative, ‘one team’ approach which engendered a positive and progressive project environment, several significant challenges were successfully overcome including keeping the CLT structure dry during the worst flooding the area had ever seen.

Team:

• University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council
• Hybrid Structures
• Speller Metcalfe
• Cundall
• Ramboll
• Gleeds
• Couch Perry Wilkes

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The £42 million Nexus enables the University of Leeds to meet their strategic objective of increasing income from research and establishing themselves as UK-leading in innovation and enterprise. Conceived as a business facing front door for the university, it provides a high-profile physical focal point for stimulating collaboration between external companies and other public/private organisations leading to new projects and income streams.

Director James Hall who led the Nexus project for AA said:

“we are delighted to receive this commendation, earning a 33rd RIBA Award for the practice. Nexus sets a new tone among innovation sector buildings not just at the University of Leeds, but in the sector as a whole. Instead of being a “university” space its a professional commercial space, based around people and space, offering rentable spaces, collaboration spaces, and access to experts/equipment that creates a vibrant, inspiring and connected innovation community.”

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The project will add two new buildings totalling just under 4,500sq.m of accommodation and see pupil numbers increase from 600 to 1,050 to provide additional teaching and support spaces.

Designed by Associated Architects, working alongside contractors Morgan Sindall, structural engineers Copeland Wedge Associates and M&E contractor Couch Perry Wilkes, the scheme includes a new three-storey teaching building and a separate sports hall facility with a reconfigured and enhanced external social space and multi-use games area.

The project has seen a highly effective collaboration between the Thomas Telford Multi-Academy Trust, the Department for Education, The University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton City Council and the design and construction team to bring forward a scheme that continues the rejuvenation and reinvention of the former brewery site.

It follows the School of Architecture & the Built Environment which was completed last year and the National Brownfield Institute, currently on site, which are both designed by Associated Architects.

Richard Perry, Director at Associated Architects said,

“We are very excited to continue our work at the Springfield campus. It has been a great team effort to develop such a fantastic scheme on a brownfield site within the local conservation area, whilst meeting the aspirations of the Thomas Telford Multi-Academy Trust and the DfE, and working within the context of the wider Springfield masterplan.”

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The ‘back to the frame’ scheme will see the creation of 210,000 sq ft of Cat A offices, featuring a 27,000 sq ft floorplate, one of the largest available in the city. The redevelopment will combine two buildings, 10 and 8 Brindleyplace into one and include serviced apartments.

Features of the project include a full new façade, double height reception space, which can be accessed from both Oozells Square and Broad Street and floor to ceiling height windows on the large floorplates.

On-site facilities will include a café, fitness centre, roof terraces; cycle storage for 100 bicycles and electric vehicle charging.

It is hoped that this large-scale project will set a new benchmark for the reinvention of existing office space in Birmingham and comes straight on the back of the very recent completion of the former Charters building on New Street, re-imagined by Associated Architects as Platform 21.

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Steve Townsend has stepped up to take the role of Director after 11 years at the practice. Steve will work closely with the existing directors Warren Jukes, James Hall and Richard Perry and his work will focus on further developing the practice’s track record in city centre office and residential development, with an emphasis on sustainable design and occupier wellbeing.

Steve joined the company in 2009 and progressed to Associate in 2016 before being promoted to Associate Director in 2017.

During his career at Associated Architects, Steve has worked on a number of high-profile projects, including Birmingham City Council’s headquarter offices at 10 Woodcock Street, which was awarded multiple British Council for Offices awards, and the RIBA Award winning Michael Baker Boathouse.

He is currently delivering Birmingham’s largest office redevelopment project at 10 Brindleyplace, as well as the Platform 21 office redevelopment, which has been fully let to the Government Property Agency. He is also leading on several luxury residential developments in Birmingham city centre, including the conversion and extension of historic buildings.

Outside the practice, Steve has been actively involved with the British Council for Offices’ NextGen Midlands Committee for more than seven years and is a former Chair of BPS Birmingham Future’s Property and Infrastructure Committee.

Steve said: “Taking on my new role as Director at Associated Architects comes as we embark on an exciting new chapter at the practice.

“It will allow me to build on our successes and help shape the future of the company, whist growing and nurturing our team to deliver buildings that are environmentally responsible, and people centred.”

Managing Director Matthew Goer added: “Steve’s promotion is a recognition of his exceptional project work, especially in the workplace sector and support of the practice’s business goals.

“The Directors are looking forward to supporting and working with Steve to achieve his business aims while maintaining the highest quality of service for our clients.”

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The programme, which is one of 11 shovel ready projects in the region, has been awarded £2.89m through the Getting Build Fund, which the University has match funded.

Andrew Proctor, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Digital) at Staffordshire University, said:

“The facilities will help fuel the local economy and transform the health workforce by encouraging and supporting health technology start-ups, creating jobs, and promoting economic growth in the region. Alongside this, students and partners will benefit from leading healthcare education through our new clinical simulation and immersion suites. We look forward to seeing our campus and wider communities transformed through this exciting development.”

The contract will provide a valuable economic boost to Stafford and the surrounding area as Pave Aways will be employing locally-based site staff and businesses in their supply chain.

Our design significantly extends the existing campus facilities to provide new spaces for learning, socialising, and events. A light-filled atrium space will become a new social heart for the campus, surrounded by modern teaching spaces equipped with state-of-the-art training facilities that will deliver a curriculum fit for 2020 and beyond. A key component of the project has been to develop an engaging and iconic façade – an expansive glazed area provides a large picture window to contrast the Siberian larch timber cladding with feature projecting fins that are arranged to express the Staffordshire Knot that appears in the University’s logo.

Associated Architects Director James Hall said

“It is excellent to see this project moving forward. The building will provide an incredibly useful space for the institution, meeting their growing needs and ensuring that they deliver the very best specialist healthcare teaching and keeping them among the best in the sector. The new social space, refurbished library, and extended café will also ensure students and staff have an excellent experience outside of the classroom.”

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Work was only temporarily disrupted on the site due to pandemic lockdown restrictions and main contractor ISG carried out the remainder of the work with a reduced workforce, in line with revised protocols and protective measures enabling progress.

The Associated Architects designed building, is the latest addition to the University’s £100 million investment in a new construction excellence campus at the former brewery.

The 7,900 square metre build has used a mix of pre-cast white concrete, bronze metal cladding and glazing over three floors. An impressive saw-tooth roof echoes the historic industrial buildings that stood on the site.

SoABE offers specialist teaching and social learning spaces, design studios, specialist labs, multi-disciplinary workshops, lecture theatre, cafe, offices, meeting rooms, ICT rooms and a top floor super studio with double height ceilings.

It will provide space for nearly 1,100 existing students and 65 staff, with the number of students projected to grow over time to 1,600.

The School will specialise in supporting skills in architecture, construction, civil engineering, building control, building services, facilities management, quantity surveying, planning, construction management, housing and commercial.

The site is also home to another Associated Architects project, the West Midlands University Technical College, the regeneration of the former Springfield Brewery is central to the University’s vision of enhancing the student experience and supporting business growth.

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