open-plan workspaces, fostering flexibility and interdisciplinary engagement. Ablution facilities are strategically placed on both the east and west sides of each floor. These are designed with perforated breeze walls to promote natural ventilation. Each block exceeds the recommended 5 % fenestration-to-floor area ratio, enhancing both sustainability and user comfort.
Materials Used All materials specified for the building align with the University’ s approved common specification, ensuring consistency and cohesion across the campus.
The University standard for West Campus is clay face brick, which has been utilised
throughout the building, with a variety of details including corbelling, stepped courses, and perforated screens to facilitate variety, ventilation, and character. Glazed façades utilise black aluminium-framed windows to tie in with other recent University buildings.
The lecture venues are designed with a focus on acoustic performance, ensuring clarity of speech and an enhanced auditory experience for all occupants. The raked lecture venue floors are finished with carpeting, which absorbs sound and minimises footfall noise. The walls are lined with timber acoustic panels, offering both warmth and effective sound diffusion, which was meticulously calculated. Overhead, an acoustic-backed aluminium lay-in ceiling
54 Nature Conservation