The Faculty of Creative & Cultural Industries of the University of Portsmouth wanted to consolidate its facilities to one site in central Portsmouth. Our new 4,600m² building expresses the faculty’s new identity within the University and the city. The scheme contains a café, shop, large exhibition space, seminar rooms and a large lecture theatre. The new home for the Portsmouth School of Architecture is located on the upper floors.
I am extraordinarily proud. The building brings together staff and students under one roof to benefit from working together and collaborating on creative projects and I am already thrilled with the response from staff and students to working and learning in the building. Professor Catherine Harper, Dean of the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
Our masterplan for the entire site analysed the most space efficient occupation of the existing buildings for the coming together of the six departments, set out a phased refurbishment programme, and addressed proposals for future expansion.
The high environmental ambitions for the project presented an ideal opportunity to design a truly exemplar sustainable building. The narrow footprint and atrium, which links all floors vertically, maximises natural ventilation. The stepping back of the floors towards the south and extensive roof lights maximise natural daylight in the building and direct sunlight in the courtyard. A ground source heat pump provides the building with medium grade heat throughout the year, and the target for CO2 consumption is set to 20kg/CO2/m²/annum.
The acoustic timber soffits create a strong visual identity in the interior spaces. Integrated lighting warms and softens the space whilst white walls provide a blank canvas for exhibitions and events. Varied furniture provides ad-hoc places to work and splashes of colour.
