Two projects shortlisted for Guardian University Awards

Two Buro Happold projects feature in this year’s Guardian University Awards shortlist. Newcastle University has been shortlisted in the ‘buildings that inspire’ category and Coventry University in the ‘teaching excellence’ category.

The first nomination recognises Newcastle University’s Urban Science Building as a new build capital project that has positively enhanced the student and staff experience on campus.

The Urban Sciences Building is the new location for the School of Computing and a flagship for urban sustainability. Image: Hawkins/Brown Architects / Kristen McCluskie
Image: Hawkins/Brown Architects / Kristen McCluskie

Dedicated to cutting edge interdisciplinary sustainability research, its functionality and aesthetics reflect the character of computer science today. The building, which is both sustainable and self-monitoring, provided a significant opportunity to revolutionise how academic buildings are designed and operated.

The facility includes a variety of high quality teaching and research spaces around a central collaborative forum, designed to welcome students, staff and members of the public into the building.

Sustainable features include rainwater harvesting, rainwater gardens, renewable energy generation, water source heat pumps and heat recovery and exchanging plant. Image: Hawkins/Brown Architects / Kristen McCluskie

Buro Happold provided a range of services including: people movement, structural, ground, lighting, acoustics, facade, fire, and building services engineering for the 12,500m2, £58m building, working closely with architects Hawkins/Brown to help deliver the client vision. One of the key project drivers has been to create a university-owned building, rather than faculty-owned. As such, public engagement, openness, flexibility and adaptability were key elements of the brief.

The new Science and Health building is designed to give students the experience of the whole patient journey. Image: Broadway Malyan

Shortlisted in the teaching excellence category, Coventry University’s nomination recognises the institution’s work to improve students’ experiences during their studies, listen to their feedback, encourage teaching staff’s professional development and increase international study opportunities.

Image: Broadway Malyan

The nomination also recognised the ongoing investment in new facilities which promote professional skills and problem-solving proficiencies. The University cites the newly opened Science and Health Building as an example of how investment in educational capabilities has differentiated the institution and contributed to their nomination.

Buro Happold provided structural, fire, acoustic and building services engineering, as well as specialist lighting design for the 120,000ft2, £59 million development working alongside architects Broadway Malyan. A modern multidisciplinary building, divided into discreet and highly specialised areas, the project presented many engineering challenges.

Image: Broadway Malyan