John Henry Brookes Building, Oxford Brookes University, Design Engine Architects

JOHN HENRY BROOKES BUILDING Oxford Brookes University 1

JOHN HENRY BROOKES BUILDING Oxford Brookes University At the core of the concept is the ambition to bring cohesion to a disparate campus; integrating existing buildings with new central student facilities. These links provide fluid movement across the new campus for the first time, where academic spaces co-exist with social areas for the enjoyment of students and staff alike. Above all, the scheme provides adaptable and flexible accommodation for changing curricula and teaching patterns. Designed from first principles for low-energy consumption in construction and in use, the John Henry Brookes and Abercrombie Building are designed to meet the University’s vision for a ‘holistic approach to enhancing the student experience’.2

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The ribbon has been introduced to addressa number of issues around and within thebuilding. Firstly it acts to tie the variouscomponents (the ‘pegs’) together, running asa continuous thread through the building. Thishelps to enhance the principle point of entry aswell as reinforce the primary circulation routeat level 1. On a practical level the colonnadeelement of the ribbon helps to give unity to theretail units behind, and provides shading to thefood hall at the south end of the building.The ribbon, which runs from the Colonnadebuilding, through the library and terminatesat the food hall, is designed in weatheringsteel. Weathering steel does not require anyprotection, such as paint, but instead formsa protective layer of oxidised material whichprevents further corrosion from occurring.The internal elements of the ribbon werepre-weathered offsite and then sealed onceinstalled. The engineering aesthetic of theelement is further reinforced internally withvisible flush-bolted connections reminiscentof the rivets on a ship. The combination ofthe ribbon and the textured concrete withinthe Forum contrast with the finer elements ofjoinery and cladding. 7

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To achieve the University’s vision for a holisticapproach the new building needed to containa critical mass of accommodation. Thisincludes social learning spaces, main library,lecture theatre, teaching rooms and catering.To give cohesion to the whole campus the coreconceptual idea is of a central glowing boxinterpenetrated by pegs, which reach out tointerconnect with the existing campus.These pegs, whilst fulfilling the need for newand better university space, crucially providethe enclosure to a series of new but differentexternal spaces. The Colonnade peg runningtowards London Road will form the Easternboundary to the new Piazza. The Abercrombiepeg creates a new façade to the Southern edgeof a re-modelled central courtyard. The Librarypeg relates to the internal Forum and creates anew north/south street. And finally the PooledTeaching and Food Hall peg forms the edge toa future courtyard behind Sinclair as well as anew western courtyard and terrace.The main University reception is housed withinthe main building, overlooking the forum space.The entrance level is set one storey above theexisting Abercrombie and inner courtyard level.This requires a change in level of 2.5m fromHeadington Road creating a gentle rampedapproach to the building rather than falling. Onentry (at level 1) you are then at the principlecirculation level, and benefit from an elevatedview across the forum, aiding orientationand legibility of the building, increasing thefunctionality of the forum space at level 0and crucially providing fluid movement to theStudent Union, pooled teaching rooms andfood hall.The main entrance area is intended as a placeto pause. It is at this point that visitors will bewelcomed and, particularly during open days,it is important that there is a generous spacefor people to gather. 11

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A 14 1 9 10 16C 12 13 D B 7 19 E 5 Legend 15 - Retail 16 - Abercrombie Atria 01 - Forum/Social Learning 17 - Student Services 02 - Gallery (Glass Tank) 18 - Energy Centre 03 - Multi Purpose Hall 19 - Sinclair building 04 - Catering 20 - Union Square 05 - John Payne building 06 - Reception A - Piazza 07 - Food Hall B - Central courtyard 08 - Students Union C - Western courtyard 09 - Abercrombie D - Western terrace 10 - Library E - Future courtyard 11 - Lecture Space 12 - Teaching Rooms 13 - Studios 14 - Doctors/Dentist14

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JOHN HENRY BROOKES BUILDING Oxford Brookes University Project Details Project Team Location Client Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Completion Date Architect 2014 Design Engine Contract Value Structural Engineer £83m Ramboll Area Environmental Engineer 24,320 sqm Grontmij Per m2 Cost £3330/sqm Cost Consultant Turner & Townsend Awards Fire Engineering Consultant RIBA Building of the year (South) Grontmij 2014 Acoustic Consultant RIBA Sustainability Award (South) Sandy Brown 2014 Landscape Architect RIBA Awards (South) Land Use Consultants 2014 Lighting Consultant Speirs and Major Signage Consultant Holmes Wood Interior Design Design Engine Catering Consutant Tricon16

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Design Engine Architects LtdThe Studio, Coker CloseWinchester SO22 5FFT.+44(0)1962 890111F.+44(0)1962 890222www.designengine.co.uk18