The first phase of Coventry University’s refurbishment of the Jaguar Building was completed in 2012 (images above). The second phase begins later in July with an ambitious plan to infill a courtyard (image below) to create a cafe and breakout space wrapped with teaching rooms and academic workspace.
The practice has been appointed to design the first phase of the refurbishment and extension of Aston University’s conference centre.
The project will include the refurbishment of kitchens and dining space including an extension to increase the seating capacity and improved links to the external courtyard space. The lounges and bar will also be updated to cater for changing guest requirements and enhanced circulation routes at ground floor. The project will be completed in a series of phases, the last of which due early in 2014.
The work force at the practice has grown with the addition of two new members of staff to provide additional resources on major projects. Paul Jones joins the practice from Morgan Sindall Professional Services in Stratford, to support our work for Coventry University. Our team led by Associate Director, Jon Moore will be undertaking designs for major refurbishments at the Jaguar Building and within the former Start-up Cafe, in addition to strategic projects for the University’s accommodation team.
Mario Monaco joins the residential team to contribute to the detailed design of a significant independent living scheme for Deeleys and Orbit in Leamington Spa. Both additions demonstrate our commitment to steady growth and reflects an increasing number of new enquiries in 2013.
The practice have been appointed by Kier to develop the design for two alternative provision schools in Birmingham.
The first in New Town involves the conversion of an existing school building, the second in Kings Heath, the refurbishment of an existing office building. Both are due for completion by September 2013.
Planning consent has been granted for Abingdon & Witney College’s new engineering facility at their Wootton Road site. The building will provide a further motor vehicle training workshop and a CADCAM teaching room extending their existing provision on the site. Work is due to begin in March with the demolition of the existing temporary teaching rooms and the relocation of services. The appointed contractor is Stepnell, and the project will be managed from their Wantage Office.
Continuing our successful relationship with Abingdon and Witney College, the practice have been appointed, with cost consultant and project manager, Faithful and Gould to deliver the next phase of the College’s transformation of the Abingdon campus. The Skills Funding Agency announced a grant toward the £5.5million scheme in November allowing the project to begin in 2013 with the first phase completed by the start of next academic year.
The project follows the addition of hair and beauty salons in summer 2012 and the successful regeneration of the College’s Witney campus in 2011.
The second phase of Aston University’s redeveloped sports provision at Woodcock Street is well underway with the primary steelwork completed and the masonry elements beginning to create a real sense of the completed building. One of the most exciting features is the living wall which will wrap the new squash courts in a planted ‘green’ wall. Designed specifically for this location by Ed Sharkey Associates, the selected plants will change appearance throughout the year, and support insects and the wildlife which feed on insect life. The living wall is growing off-site before it’s installation early in 2013 (see photo) by Speller Metcalfe and Biotecture.
Representatives of the practice attended the official opening of Sidney Stringer Academy. The proceedings included music and dance performances from the students, speeches and a formal opening by HRH Duke of York.
We worked with Sheppard Robson Architects to deliver the academy across two sites in Hillfields, Coventry.
The second phase of the redevelopment at the Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre for Aston University began on site in July and is due for completion in Spring 2013.
Speller Metcalfe were appointed in June to construct the project, beginning in the summer with repairs to the structure of the original historic building. The new build element of the project includes a sports hall, squash courts, spectator areas and changing facilities. Innovative features incorporate into the facade include the steel mesh cladding and a living green wall on the elevation to Woodock Street.
Summer 2012 has been a busy period for everyone working at the practice.
Since the refurbishment of our offices in the Old Library we have been getting used to the new layout and enjoying the new meeting spaces on the mezzanine. The investment in the workspace was specifically focused on improving the environment, the new opening lights in the original windows made a big difference on the warmer summer days. The next phase of investment will see the focus on upgrading IT equipment and expansion of our BIM programme.
On site we have been working hard to deliver a variety of education projects for the beginning of the new academic year. Refurbishment of the Jaguar, Maurice Foss and Ellen Terry buildings for Coventry University have continued our relationship with their estates team. The opening of the new Midland Studio College, a studio school in Hinckley has breathed new life into the old technical college building on Spa Lane. Handover of the Sherbourne Residences at the University of Warwick creates an additional 527 rooms for the undergraduate cohort beginning in October. A scheme which also represents our first BREEAM Excellent rated student accommodation project, an important milestone which gives us valuable experience in sustainable design.
Above, elements of the external facades, University of Warwick.
Completed projects have also been handed over at Myton School in Leamington and at Bromsgrove School, where new boarding houses have been added to their campus. The first phase of the practice’s masterplan for Abingdon & Witney College’s Abingdon campus was occupied by the Hair and Beauty Faculty, who now have professional quality salons at the heart of their campus.
Within the practice, Andrea Obremski and Matt Pitts have returned to University to finish their studies having made a massive contribution to the practice over the last 12 months. Joining us is Petra Schwarczova, a placement student from Sheffield Hallam University who we expect to work on a range of projects across the practice during the next year, and become an integral member of our team.
All in all a pretty busy three months, and with plenty of exciting commissions to occupy us during the Autumn and Winter a very exciting time for the practice.
