Faculty of Business and Law, Lincoln
University of Lincoln.
- Sector: Education
- Building Type: Refurbishment
- UK Dates: December 2009 - December 2010
- Gross Area: 5050 sq m.
- Contract Value: £8,200,000
The Faculty of Business and Law was previously the headquarters for the Lincolnshire Echo Newspaper. Built in the 1980’s, a main feature of the existing building was a three storey press hall which housed the original printing presses. This press hall has been converted into an atrium to create a main focal point for the internal layout of the building which serves to help orient people around the building. Just off the new atrium are three new Learning Lounges named Collaborate, Concentrate & Contemplate. The high specification of these spaces was guided by research into Learning Landscapes and the spaces in which we work and learn, where break out areas help to enhance informal staff student integration outside of lectures. These spaces include high quality furniture, shear walls with built in plasma recesses and print pods with the aim to create comfortable, light, naturally ventilated areas with the chance for staff and students to plug in to state of the art I.T. facilities. The old press slab has been retained as a feature, the ink is still visible where over the years it has seeped through the concrete. Other original features include a lifting winch which was used to transport printed papers. The main modern architectural interventions into the atrium space consist of a feature staircase, a leaning timber shear wall and two large new roof lights. The new staircase wraps around a timber clad lift shaft and clever use of hidden cantilevered steels allow the staircase to appear to float between first and second floor. The fully glazed balustrade adds to this illusion. Over 150 glazed screens help to bring daylight deep into the plan and enable the academic staff maintain natural surveillance over the circulation areas. A simple palette of materials has been used of Glass, Steel and European Oak cladding these materials along with bold red painted extruded folds help give the Faculty of Business and Law a strong corporate identity. Bespoke signage and manifestations also designed by Stem Architects have been used throughout the building which helps to enhance the sense of identity and add an element of privacy to the offices and teaching spaces.
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