MAKE University of Nottingham Jubilee Campus Expansion Design Statement May 2006

This Design Statement is submitted to accompany the planning application and describes the proposals for the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus Expansion. It should be read in conjunction with the application drawings, and describes the design brief, the site and its context and identifies the site’s opportunities. The evolution of the design and the scheme’s benefits are summarised in relation to Nottingham, the University, the potential occupants and the existing local community

University of Nottingham Jubilee Campus Expansion

Design Statement

May 2006

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Contact information

University Park Estates Office Nottingham NG7 2RD

Client address:

Triumph Road Nottingham

55-65 Whitfield Street London

W1T 4HE T: 020 7636 5151

Contents Contact information

01 Introduction 7

Introduction Site aerial view Site extents outlined in red Site area shaded in yellow Site location plan

Masterplan objectives

02 Site and context 14

Site analysis Aerial view of site Historic context Surrounding development

03 Evolution 23

Design evolution:

the masterplan Design evolution:

the buildings

04 Masterplan 29

Proposed development The masterplan

05 Building organisation and form 35

Building organisation Building form:

International House Building form:

Amenity Building Building form:

Gateway Building

06 Elevations and materials 43

Existing palette of materials International House and the Amenity Building Envelopes

The Gateway Building Envelope

07 Landscape and ecology 53

Landscape context Site photos

Landscape concept Lake Edge

Central park Landscape masterplan The Boulevard

Soft landscape materials Hard landscape materials Ecology

08 Sustainability 67

Sustainability Rainwater collection : International House Rainwater collection : Amenity Building Rainwater collection : Gateway Building

09 Lighting 73

Lighting proposals

10 In detail 77

Phasing Access for all Cleaning and maintenance Waste strategy

12 Conclusion 93

13 Drawing Appendix 97

01 Introduction

Introduction This Design Statement is submitted to accompany the

planning application and describes the proposals for the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus Expansion It should be read in conjunction with the application drawings, and describes the design brief, the site and its context and identifies the site’s opportunities

The evolution of the design and the scheme’s benefits are summarised in relation to Nottingham, the University, the potential occupants and the existing local community.

The site was acquired by the University in 1999, having been previously occupied by Raleigh, one of the world’s biggest bicycle manufacturers Since then, the University has begun a process of redeveloping the site The design of the initial masterplan and subsequent developments was undertaken by Hopkins Architects, and by supporting architecture of this calibre the University has established the Jubilee Campus as a centre of design excellence The Jubilee Campus has an established and clear identity of pavilions located in a parkland environment.

This application relates to the site adjacent to Triumph Road The area was granted Outline Planning Permission in November 2005, approving the masterplan prepared by Make which embraced the proposed expansion of Jubilee Campus including academic and research/science buildings, infrastructure and landscaping.

Extensive consultation has been undertaken, in particular with the Planning Officers at Nottingham City Council, The Urban Design Forum and The Environment Agency (EA) The evolution of the design proposals have incorporated the views of these bodies, leading to the submission of this application.

The application site forms part of a wider masterplan for the surrounding area which includes this application and the Development Framework for the Jubilee Campus.

location

Jubilee Campus looking south

Jubilee Campus

University Park Campus

Kingsmeadow Campus

city centre

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site

Site aerial view

Site extents outlined in red

Site area shaded in yellow

Site location plan

Site area cross hatched in red

University of Nottingham land outlined in blue

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proposals for the Jubilee Campus A brief was developed which reflects these aspirations to:

Character

Seize the opportunity to create a destination through the site The site offers a key opportunity to establish a new public route The masterplan has been developed to create

a new lateral route across the site which will open the campus to the surrounding urban environment, forging stronger connections with existing streetscapes and enhancing the campus’ integration within its context.

Transport

Integrate with local public transport routes and the promote sustainable transport The University has prepared a Green Travel Plan which has been submitted as part of this application.

Quality of public realm

Create public open spaces, eliminate barriers and fences

Confine cars, service and fire access to the perimeters of the site preserving the majority of the area for pedestrian and bicycle use only Reduce traffic speed on Triumph Road which bisects the site.

Ease of movement

Improve and create routes for pedestrians and cyclists and enhance views through the site.

The Hopkins masterplan

new public route

Create a series of coherent spaces and routes through the

site to stitch together access from the Jubilee Campus,

residential development beyond the railway lines and Derby

Road, the primary route leading to the city centre and The

Embrace and improve the ecological demands of the site,

Triumph Road and the River Leen.

Security

Continue the safe and secure environment created in the

Jubilee Campus.

Sustainability

Create a sustainable development embracing

environmental and ecological aspirations Buildings will

be low energy and sustainable.

The proposals have been generated by a comprehensive

analysis of the site and it’s context The aspirations of the

scheme reflect the site’s enormous potential as a place to

work and learn.

The Jubilee Campus

Jubilee Campus looking north-east

02 Site and context

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Nottingham’s city centre and is bounded to the north by the University buildings, railway lines to the east, Territorial Army and business premises to the south and the Jubilee Campus to the west Triumph Road bisects the site running north - south.

The site has an area of 75,000m2.

The proposals also include the re-alingment of Triumph Road Future phases of work will also be involved with the widening of the River Leen, which does not form part of this application

At present the site is largely vacant except for the single storey Clearway buildings to the west of Triumph Road which will be demolished by the end of May 2006 There are gasometers to the north-east and light industry and

warehouse buildings to the south, the remainder of the site

is surrounded by low rise residential suburbs The partially demolished building to the south west corner of the site which houses an electrical substation will be demolished and replaced with a purpose built substation.

The site is situated on an ex-industrial, brown field site formally occupied by Ragleigh The existing Jubilee Campus was designed by Hopkins Architects.

The residential context adjacent to the site is characterised

by post-war semi detached houses This residential area is predominately low-rise consisting of two storey buildings.

The site’s proximity to the Jubilee Campus and residential developments provides a significant opportunity.

facing page: aerial site photograph

Aerial view of site

looking north with site boundary

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influenced by Raleigh, one of the great British manufacturing names.

Until the 1930s the entire site was predominantly of agricultural use The road which was to become Triumph Road formed one of the boundaries to Wollaton Park

There has been underground mining on three seams of coal

at 70m to 230m deep, with the last recorded date of working in 1949 This area is to the east of the site adjacent to the railway lines The Coal Authority has reported that ground movement from these coal workings should now have ceased.1

The Raleigh Bicycle Company was formed in 1890, and in

1896 built the largest cycle factory in the world on this site.

In its heyday, the company employed 7,000 people and occupied some 30 hectares at Nottingham By the end of

1999 this had been reduced to 9 hectares

1 The Coal Authority 5th May 2004

Triumph Road Fire Station

By the late 1950s demand for bicycles had steadily dropped

due to increased population affluence, a greater demand

for cars and the influx of cheap imports from the Far East

Raleigh’s 1950s purpose-built factory on Triumph Road

employed 470 people in 2001 and closed at the end of

2002 with the loss of nearly 300 jobs.

In 1999 Hopkins Architects were commissioned by the

University to masterplan the Jubilee Campus, establishing a

precedent for architecture of the highest quality This

masterplan has subsequently been adopted by the City

Council as the Jubilee Campus Development Brief.

The Make masterplan uses this Development Brief as the

basis for a scheme which meets the all University’s

requirements and provides a series of buildings and spaces

that continue the tradition of architectural excellence

established by the initial masterplan.

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Surrounding

development

The site of the proposed development lies to the east of the Jubilee Campus Its neighbouring area is one of considerable diversity, with buildings ranging from large scale residential and commercial developments and Wollaton Park to the west, to 1950’s semi detached houses towards the east.

The site has four distinct boundaries The Jubilee Campus forms the site’s western boundary with the Business School directly adjacent and the NCSL 100m to the south

Park Campus

Jubilee Campus Wollaton Park

Post-war industrial buildings form the site’s north and

south boundaries.

The railway lines and the River Leen to the south-east

provide a buffer to the site beyond which are five storey

apartment blocks built during the last ten years.

Wollaton Park to the west provides a green buffer in

predominantly low rise residential area consisting of

semi-detached properties Wollaton Park, a Grade I listed Tudor

mansion, is home to a number of the city’s museums.

Further west along Derby Road is the University’s Park

Campus.

The River Leen

Triumph Road junction onto Derby Road

railway lines to the east of the site

03 Evolution

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Design evolution:

the masterplan

The design for the proposed development has evolved through detailed consultation with various parties, as described in the introduction Many ideas and options have been studied and developed as part of the interactive

process that has lead to the final design.

Whilst the initial masterplan concepts for the boulevard, landscape and building positions and orientations have been carried through from Outline Planning The

articulation of the building envelopes and forms have undergone significant design development.

Outline Planning Application - Phase 1

A separate masterplan study has been commissioned by the University This masterplan, which is a development of the Outline Planning Application Masterplan, will be used as a framework document for the Innovation Park to the east of Triumph Road Areas have been defined for potential

building development, roads and parking This masterplan was produced in close collaboration with the University This study will be submitted with the Planning Application

as supplementary information.

The original design of dynamic building forms has been retained Following

careful studies of the surrounding area the massing of these buildings has

been developed accordingly This was achieved through the interactive

process of building actual and computer models to achieve the optimum

building forms.

A series of physical models and computer visualisation allowed the design

team to consider the options for a number of massing and landscape

options to explore how the design could best respond to the site and

context.

Massing model - International House and The Amenity Building looking north-west

Massing model - International House, The Amenity Building and The Gateway Building (head) looking west

Massing model - looking south along Triumph Road Phase one - masterplan model

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Design evolution:

the buildings

The design studies examined the configuration, mass, facade treatment and orientation of the building forms and their influence on the amenity space and routes The

language of the building massing was then extended to the cladding and roof concept.

The structures for International House and the Amenity Building rise from the ground like natural land forms, an effect heightened by their cladding system which consists

of glazed and unglazed terracotta tiles arranged in bands like geological strata The colour palate of the cladding also reflects the traditional brick construction that dominates the surrounding area The folding planes forming the roof will be clad in a zinc standing seam system and provide screening to the plant room equipment.

International House and the Amenity Building address Triumph Road and are positioned to define a public edge along this route.

Facade study - International House and The Amenity Building

Facade study - International House south and east elevations

sketch studies International House and The Amenity Building

study model - folded roof planes

The Gateway Building straddles Triumph Road to physically

and symbolically link the two halves of the campus The

structure will mark the heart of the campus, symbolising

the innovation and expertise the University nurtures A

dynamic circular form and a cladding system of matt silver

shingles identify this building’s unique use within the

Jubilee Campus, while mirroring the materials used in the

existing surrounding buildings.

sketch study - Gateway Building Entrance from Triumph Road

Computer model study - The Gateway Building form

Sketch study - Gateway Building

04 Masterplan

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Fan shape layout following concepts established in outline planning report

Situated in a suburban area to the south-west of the city centre, with the university’s main Park Campus close by, the Jubilee Campus has been developed according to a masterplan by Hopkins Architects, subsequently adopted by the City Council as a development brief The Make masterplan for Jubilee Campus site builds upon this

development brief to extend and enhance existing facilities so that the University can meet future needs and continue to offer students and staff the optimum environment for research, study and

recreation

The existing campus development has a strongly linear character and

is divided by three north-south routes running the length of the site

The Make masterplan institutes a new lateral route that opens up the site to create a richer and more diverse environment This new route takes the form of a generous landscaped pedestrian boulevard that extends to link two bodies of water lying on the western and south-eastern perimeters of the campus, drawing the theme of nature through the campus and providing a focus for recreational and leisure activities The pedestrian boulevard terminates to the east at the River Leen, where it is proposed that the poor quality of the existing riverbank will be upgraded and enlarged to create a new destination for the campus and the wider community

The pedestrian boulevard knits together a rich array of buildings and functions, enlivened and softened by the natural elements of the lake and the proposed upgraded, enlarged river feature The majority of the buildings within the masterplan are between two and three storeys in height, rising to a maximum of four storeys above ground level at the heart of the scheme This low level of development ensures that the buildings harmonise with their suburban setting, while the highest structures are focused at the centre of the campus

in order to create a clear focal point and assist in orientation

The campus is divided into two main zones by Triumph Road which runs north-south through the site: the science-based Research and Innovation Park lies to the east, with the academic facilities located

increase of 145 spaces (includes 4 disable parking)Bus stop 2

Total GEA* 11,491m2

* based on information provided by design team quantity surveyor, Gardiner & Theobald

New buildings aligned with masterplan concept, 1 International House, 2 Amenity Building, 3 Gateway Building

1

2

3

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7 12

7 13

7 16

7 14

7 15

7 13

7 13

Site key plan

7 17

1 International House

New proposed building to be occupied by a number of existing

University administrative, academic departments and teaching

facilities, currently in various locations across the campus

2 Amenity Building

New proposed building to function as a support building to the

International House and includes a staff catering area, fitness suite,

Muslim and multi-faith prayer rooms and accommodation for visiting

academics

3 Gateway Building - ‘Head’

New proposed building houses a range of facilities for new

businesses, and straddles Triumph Road to physically and

symbolically link the two halves of the campus The ‘Head’ building

includes event space, seminar, meeting rooms, teaching space and

offices

4 Gateway Building - ‘Business Incubators Unit’

This section of the building houses the business incubators unit

(This proposal is subject to separate application.)

The 60m high spire provides a strategic landmark within the

development as shown on the outline planning report

8 Boulevard

This definitive axis running east-west provides an important and

legible route from the existing Jubilee Campus to the River Leen and

beyond A bold avenue of trees will reinforce an animated water

feature which will be continuous and run the entire length of the

boulevard

9 Cycle routes

The east-west link along the boulevard will be reinforced by providing

a dedicated cycle route across the development facilitating the

possibility of a future bridge link Storage spaces will be provided

adjacent to International House and the Amenity Building and will be

accessed from the eastern roadway

10 Vehicular arrivalVehicles will be kept to the perimeter of the site in order to encourage a safer pedestrian environment free from constant vehicle traffic Shared surface paving will signify the change in priorities for road users and give a more open feel for pedestrians

11 MoundsThese areas will be flexible spaces for relaxing They serve to break

up the formality of the hard landscape and compliment the proposed buildings and boulevard

12 Widened River Leen(This proposal is subject to separate application.)

As part of the ecological enhancement of the site, the deep concrete culvert currently containing the river is to be removed to create a large open basin containing flood water

13 CarparkNew car parking facilities

14 Wild flower meadow

As a temporary measure this mounded area will be seeded as a wild flower meadow

15 Triumph Road realignmentThe existing Triumph Road will be realigned in the centre of the site in order to create dynamic vistas and as a traffic calming measure This differs to the Outline Planning Application where the road

realignment started further south, however this adversely affected the road junction to the NCSL

16 Bus stopsTwo new bus stops will be created along Triumph Road adjacent to the Amenity Building

17 Bin storeProposed location for the existing bin store for Business School and additional bin store for International House and Amenity Building

05 Building organisation and form

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Public realm (yellow shade indicates pedestrian pathways)

Car parking (red shades indicate parking)

Waste collection (circle indicates bin stores)

Fire engine access (circle indicates access points)

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West entrance &

Plant access & emergency escape from terraces

Building form:

International House

International House will be occupied by various university departments, and will primarily contain offices and seminar rooms

Roof

Terrace

Window in ‘strata’ arrangement

Terracotta ‘baguettes’ louvre Plant louvre

Feature water spout

North-Eastisometric viewSouth-West

isometric view

North-Eastisometric view

South-Westisometric view

West entrance &

emergency escape

East entrance &

emergency escape

Catering delivery access

Fitness suite delivery access

Plant access Plant access

Building form:

Amenity Building

The Amenity Building functions

as a support building to International House and includes

a staff catering area, fitness suite, Muslim and multi-faith prayer rooms and

accommodation for visiting academics

Feature water spout

Terrace

Window in ‘strata’ arrangement Terracotta ‘baguettes’ louvre Plant louvre

Roof

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Building form:

Gateway Building

Main entrance to Business incubator unit

Bin and plant access

Plant access

Main entrance to Head building

Open plant enclosure

Earth mound

Bridge link Head building

Earth mound Business incubator unit Open plant enclosure

The Gateway building is split in two parts either side of Triumph road and connected via a bridge link The head building on the West side of Triumph road contains event space and teaching facilities The Business incubator unit on the East side of Triumph road contains office/ lab space

Triumph road