Higher Education
“ADP has developed an excellent approach in working in partnership and collaboration, both with the university and the end users, and is sharing knowledge with the university, other consultants and end users so that all can achieve maximum benefit.” Quote: Garry East, Director of Estates, Aston University.
People Inspired Our buildings are inspired by people. We work hard to support estate thinking and academic delivery, building communities through a proactive engagement with our university clients to understand their vision: an interaction that continues throughout the creative process. We challenge our stakeholders and end users in the pursuit of a design quality that goes beyond our client’s expectations. By exploring beneficial change, we create buildings and places that are more relevant and more connected to people’s needs, both now and in the future. We place people at the centre of our thinking throughout the design process, creating people-inspired places that have context and purpose. Sharing thought leadership and research helps us to ensure that every project succeeds where it matters most – by enhancing the lives of the people who live, study, teach, research, play, and socialise in a campus community.
“The Jubilee building is a really great space for bringing business and students together. It strikes the perfect balance, achieving both a corporate feel and the sense of an innovative learning environment.� BUILDING COMMUNITIES Higher education institutions are thriving communities that are continually evolving. Universities continue to expand partnerships with local communities, government, industry, and other education providers: reshaping the landscape of a modern campus. The estate now reflects a complex network of connected communities, welcoming a diverse population of undergraduates, postgraduates, home and international students, school groups, mature students, professionals, industry and commercial partners, researchers, academics, staff, and visitors.
We aim to create places where local communities, academia, and industry can work together, resulting in innovation and enterprise that contributes to local, regional, and national economies. We build communities where the student experience is enriched, and where academia and entrepreneurship can come together to develop ideas and share knowledge. Our work is more than simply designing buildings. At ADP we help build and connect communities.
Quote: Staff member at the University of Sussex. Image: Jubilee Building at the University of Sussex. Teaching accommodation is arranged over two flexible wings either side of a large central atrium. A cafĂŠ and social learning space link the main block to an adjoining, partly submerged 500-seat lecture theatre.
“It is a most beautiful contemporary building. Glass, Portland stone, columns, space, echoes of Athens and the stamp of the 21st century. If you want to see what the future can be - go for a stroll on the campus of a good university. The best of our country is there and the best is to come.”
INSPIRING PLACES People make places. We think of the university campus as a mini-city, and seek to create open, inspiring and social environments that promote interaction and encourage learning and innovation. Places where the design of distinctive buildings and the urban realm combine to create a sense of place that captures an institution’s academic excellence and unique character. Quote: Melvin Bragg, The Spectator, July 2015. Image: The Laidlaw Library, University of Leeds.
Working closely with our clients’ strategic vision for their estate, we offer an integrated design service that
considers the whole environment from the ‘inside out’. Our work ranges from strategic and academic masterplans that review an entire estate, to designing new and remodelled buildings, interiors and the public realm. We consider every space that supports and connects the campus community. By creating modern workplace and learning environments in older buildings we also ensure that heritage assets are protected, that every building on a university campus works hard to serve its purpose both now and in the future.
“ADP is a high quality practice who took the masterplanning task seriously, developing a level of understanding of the campus architecture and history that was very impressive.�
Quote: David Kirkwood, Estates and Facilities Management Director, University of Sussex.
“The mix of stunning architecture with flexibly designed spaces, creative use of technology and dynamic furniture has created a remarkable, vibrant building with a spirit that encourages innovation by both students and staff.”
PLACES TO LEARN The impact of new technology on pedagogy is influencing university building design, uniting the physical campus with new technology and virtual learning environments. This marks a cultural shift from institutional teaching structures to more agile learning hubs where blended learning can take place. We create facilities supported by resources, where people can gather and collaborate. Our design solutions enable collaboration anywhere:
from informal breakout spaces and café areas to more formal teaching areas such as libraries and lecture theatres. Shared circulation, open spaces and dynamic furniture can encourage the exchange of ideas between communities of academics, researchers, staff, and students. We design agile, flexible, multifunctional spaces that can be shared by different user groups, and can be adapted for changes in future use.
Quote: Andrew Ironside, Pro ViceChancellor (Resources), Canterbury Christ Church University. Image: Library refurbishment at Aston University. The existing listed library, designed by modernist architect Sir Basil Spence, was remodelled to provide a learning resource centre with IT-rich social learning areas.
Top: Learning Commons at HeriotWatt University. Left and centre: Collaboration space in The Laidlaw Library, University of Leeds.
Right: Library spaces in Augustine House, Canterbury Christ Church University.
“It’s rare to find such a wellconsidered development in such a central position, and we have been delighted with how the compact apartments have been received.”
PLACES TO Stay
Quote: Greg Barnes, Brecon and Brecon. Image: Student residences at Lincoln College, University of Oxford. Every inch of useable space in an existing 1960s office building was cleverly exploited to create light-filled compact apartments that are deceptively spacious.
Residential accommodation is changing, reflecting a widening provision of postgraduate and international student accommodation, academic lettings, and ‘hotel-style’ conference rooms. Students are now demanding a higher quality of bedroom, connected to communal social spaces such as the kitchen, canteen, lounge, shop, study room, gym and practice room. They want secure places to live and a feeling of
independence. Students also want to feel part of communities with a growing importance on facilities that promote lifestyle, health, and wellbeing. We work with university estates, residential teams and third party providers to deliver a range of residential accommodation, from individual study bedrooms to studios and apartments.
“We’re committed to providing the very best learning environment for our students here at Newman, and this investment is the next part of our plan to deliver on that aim.”
Quote: Peter Lutzeier, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Newman University in “Newman University unveils plans for £22m campus regeneration”, Birmingham Post (02/2016). Image: Student residences, Newman University. The 298 bed residential blocks will provide a safe, efficient and sustainable environment where students can live, study and socialise.
“The students have really enjoyed working together in splendid surroundings and with such excellent facilities. The ways in which we can work together and interact with classes from other years and other disciplines has been brilliant.”
PLACES FOR WORLD-CLASS Science Teaching Our buildings push the boundaries of laboratory and science-facility design, creating environments that embrace new and dynamic science teaching pedagogies, and provide inspiring environments that help change behaviour through social learning and academic collaboration. We are at the forefront of developing ‘function-based superlabs’ that can be used for multiple activities by all year groups across a number of departments and science disciplines.
This has resulted in better timetabling, utilisation and flexibility, with parallel teaching of different group sizes and opportunities for sharing of specialist equipment between subject areas. The result is greater opportunities for diversification of the science curriculum, modular teaching, and collaborative research.
Quote: Professor Jim Marshall, University of Liverpool. Image: Departments for Biological Life Sciences and Lancaster Environmental Centre laboratories at Lancaster University.
“This investment is a substantial part of the University’s £520m campus development plan and will help secure our ambition to be one of the UK’s top ten research universities.”
Quote: Dennis Hopper, Director of Facilities Management, University of Leeds. Image: New £96 million interdisciplinary science centre for the University of Leeds.
“We want to connect Essex researchers, businesses, the public and voluntary sectors by providing a thriving business environment at the Knowledge Gateway. Our new Innovation Centre will deliver a step-change in the use of our cutting-edge research to improve productivity, support companies across the technology, professional service and creative sectors and create high quality new jobs.”
PLACES FOR Research, INNOVATION AND ENTERPRISE
Quote: Professor Anthony Forster, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Essex in “Plans submitted for phase two of Knowledge Gateway at University of Essex”, http://www. eadt.co.uk/ (01/2015). Image: The Innovation Centre is a flagship project for the University of Essex Knowledge Gateway site, and reflects the growing trend for enterprise parks on university campuses.
Universities have increasingly recognised the opportunity to unite academic research with industry, enterprise, and commercial partnerships. The campus is evolving to become both ‘inventor and developer’, to support the local and global economy. From spin-off research ventures and applied manufacturing centres, through to business incubation facilities for start-up companies, we design facilities that support collaboration and maximise
opportunities to develop and capitalise upon the discoveries and assets of the institution. This attracts a new generation of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs who all contribute to employment, innovation, and the knowledge economy. Our buildings offer the ‘added value’ of the co-location of technical expertise and facilities, marrying like-minded entrepreneurs and researchers with great architecture and a place to learn.
“The team has translated our vision with great creativity into a unique, beautiful and user-friendly space.�
Quote: Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley, British Antarctic Survey. Image: The Aurora Cambridge provides conference and meeting facilities, collaboration space and open plan offices for international scientists in the areas of climate change, environmental stewardship and technologies for challenging environments.
“All of the partners are immensely proud of The Forum Southend-onSea’s resounding success. As well as being an attractive asset for the town and the student community, it has drawn visitors from around the world, keen to understand how this successful project works.”
Shared places Partnerships between local authorities, other academic providers and universities has encouraged the sharing of resources and services that are more accessible to local communities. Giving communities an opportunity to influence our design helps us to create better facilities. We are adept at listening to the needs of disparate partner organisations and multiple user groups to develop a collective vision of shared lifelong learning facilities for the whole community.
Quote: Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Cllr for Culture in “Millions flock to The Forum”, southend.gov. uk (2016) Regarding The Forum, pictured on the following spread. Images: The Forum was developed in partnership between the University of Essex, Southend-onSea Borough Council and South Essex College. It provides a shared public and academic library, lecture theatre, bookable rooms for small business meetings and teaching spaces.
Image: The Forum, the University of Essex, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and South Essex College.
“ADP’s designs encompass the concept of ‘place making’ in creating some exciting new spaces. These spaces have developed their own community character, punctuating and enhancing other new buildings within the campus, which promotes sustainability and improves the health and wellbeing of the campus.”
sustainable places Sustainable design is ingrained in everything we do. Through continuous engagement with university stakeholders and the wider campus community throughout the design process, we create sustainable designs that support the university’s aspirations for their estate.
Quote: Phillip Woodward, Project Manager, University of Liverpool. Image: Jubilee Quad, University of Liverpool.
As well as creating attractive places that promote wellbeing, we work hard to design external spaces and public realm that supports a university’s sustainability strategy, green travel plan, and biodiversity policy on
campus. We support the concept of the campus as a ‘living laboratory’, creating communities through activities and place making. We work closely with the BRE and HEFCE and are members of the Green Building Council to ensure we create a culture of sustainable behaviour and thinking, delivering to the highest standard of environmental ratings such as BREEAM and supporting targets set as part of the AUDE Green Scorecard assessment.
“Timber from native tree species is proposed for the wood cladding, which together with ‘living walls’ of climbing plants, will help the building integrate with its setting. A managed woodland environment will support ecology and biodiversity and provide public access into this previously private location.”
Quote: Karen Turnbull, Sustainability Leader, ADP. Image: Set in 18 acres of woodland, Stansfeld Park will be home to a science education centre and the Wood Centre for Innovation, which will provide office and collaboration space for local innovation grow-on companies.
“ADP has undertaken all projects to the highest of standards, in accordance with the University’s initial brief. They have demonstrated their commitment to excellence in developing a range of projects that have exceeded our expectations, enabling the University to be more flexible in operating its business.”
NATIONAL EXPERTISE DELIVERED LOCALLY ADP has eight studios in the UK and an international office. This enables us to support our university clients by uniting national expertise with a relationship-building service delivered at a hands on, local level. Over the past five decades we have been continually learning from our clients. This has given us an in-depth knowledge of the sector and the complexity of delivering higher education facilities. We offer a robust design and consultation management process that is delivered by experienced, passionate, and knowledgeable people. Good communication between the architect, client and other consultants
is crucial, and we ensure that this interaction continues throughout the design process. The capture and exploration of design ideas is supported by 3D BIM modelling and visualisation software that promotes collaboration, efficient delivery, and successful cost effective project outcomes. Putting people at the centre of the design process has resulted in awardwinning architecture and strong client relationships. We measure the outcomes of our work and invest in research, so that we continually improve what we do and contribute to the latest thinking. We are people inspired.
Quote: Colin Davies, Capital Projects Director, Liverpool John Moores University.
Birmingham Delhi NCR Edinburgh Glasgow London Manchester Newcastle Oxford Sherborne
birmingham@adp-architecture.com delhi@adp-architecture.com edinburgh@adp-architecture.com glasgow@adp-architecture.com london@adp-architecture.com manchester@adp-architecture.com newcastle@adp-architecture.com oxford@adp-architecture.com sherborne@adp-architecture.com
www.adp-architecture.com