HSE International ISSUE 100 | Page 23

One of the standout features is a live tree in the main study area which helps to create a calming environment for students and symbolises the green credentials of both the Library and the University. Alex Solk, Partner from Sheppard Robson added: “It has been a tremendous privilege to partner with Lancaster University to develop proposals to re-generate a Library to meet the expectations of this leading University. Collaborating with researchers, students, academics and library staff has enabled us to develop a design that will create a step change in the learning offer provided by the Library. Drawing on the latest research in design for higher education, the new library will respond to the needs of all students and staff both using the resources available today and future-proofed to accommodate future learning styles.” THE SPINE REMODELLING The Spine is the beating heart of the University, a thriving thoroughfare connecting students, staff and visitors to the main locations on campus since the 1960s. Rick Mather Architects have been appointed to remodel the Spine and, whilst acknowledging the pioneering design provided for the University campus in the 1960s, current proposals focus on the demands and future needs of an inspiring, modern university campus. The team’s vision involves re-defining The Spine as a sequence of spaces with enlivened building frontages, a series of characterful connecting spaces and interesting diagonal relationships to better connect the campus together. The project is currently in design and the architects are seeking ideas from students and staff through the ‘Design the Spine’ campaign. Construction work will start on the Spine Remodelling project in 2016. REDEVELOPMENT OF LANCASTER UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT SCHOOL Lancaster University Management School is a tripleaccredited, world-ranked management school which features consistently in the UK’s top ten and the world’s top 1% of business schools. The Management School has earned a global reputation for leading research and teaching excellence, providing a stimulating and supportive environment for students from across the world. The redevelopment project aims to create a truly worldclass and innovative teaching, research and business engagement environment to cater for the future needs of students, staff and business partners. It is anticipated that the redevelopment will open by the summer of 2019. Mark Swindlehurst, Director of Facilities at Lancaster University commented: “Lancaster University values the contribution that good design brings to its built environment. We have engaged Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios to embrace the challenge of designing a world-class facility. We are keen to explore how recent developments in design across Higher Education and Global Business can combine to create world leading education and workspace environments.” SPORT LANCASTER Lancaster University opened a brand new £20m Sports Centre in August 2011 featuring the very latest in top-ofthe-range sporting facilities. Located just off the A6, the centre is available to students, staff and to the general public. The design and development process of the Sports Centre took two years and ensured a high-quality facility with consideration to the surrounding area. The Centre is 30 percent bigger than the University’s previous Centre for Sport and Recreation which was opened in 1967. Facilities include: a 25-metre swimming pool with 8 lanes including a ‘floating floor’ (to vary the depth of the pool); a climbing wall & bouldering cave (specially designed with input from renowned mountaineer and then University Chancellor Sir Chris Bonington); sauna and steam rooms and a sports hall with 8 badminton courts, 4 squash courts and outdoor changing facilities for field games. There is also a state-of-the art, 100-station gym on two levels. External facilities include: 8 tennis courts, 3 artificial sports pitches, 5 netball courts, various grass pitches, an artificial cricket wicket, a bowling green and a trim trail. The University Sports Facilities have been ranked 6th in the UK by the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey and the Sports Centre’s sustainable design credentials have been recognised with the award of a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICE Since 2005, Lancaster University has reduced its carbon emissions by 22 percent to 20,403 tC02e in 2014-15 and is aiming to increase this figure to 43% by 2020, in line with Higher Education sector and UK Government targets – as well as those targets set in its own Carbon Management Plan (CMP). The CMP incorporates a wide range of projects, including the wind turbine, biomass boiler and Combined Heat and Power plant. The University is one of only 44 institutions that are on track to meet or exceed their 2020 carbon reduction targets set by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Lancaster’s electricity usage is the equivalent of powering 10,000 homes and more than a third of this energy is supplied through a wind turbine and the Combined Heat and Power plant. WIND TURBINE Among several pioneering, carbon reduction projects, Lancaster University’s wind turbine was developed and installed to reduce carbo