Post-Graduate Centre, Heriot Watt University
Hypostyle Architects were appointed in February 2006 by Heriot-Watt University to develop a new £6m Post Graduate Centre, based on their winning design following a two-stage selection process. This prestigious building was the University's first major 21st Century project at their Edinburgh campus. It is also the first purpose-built facility of it’s type in the UK.
A contemporary design was called for and the 'iconic' design was selected from six design proposals prepared by short-listed design teams, The three-storey building is located on the northern edge of the campus and is clad in glass, solar louvres and Sto render. Situated on an important corner site a curved lecture is the focal point, clad in smooth metal cladding in the University's blue.
Our basic concept was based on dividing the building footprint into a rectangle with three distinct zones, each sized to enclose areas with similar structural requirements. The south zone contains a café, offices and smaller seminar and meeting rooms requiring good day lighting, natural ventilation and minimal mechanical systems. The central zone houses vertical circulation, toilets and stores. The north zone accommodates larger spaces, many requiring limited or no day lighting and all requiring mechanically controlled environments.
These arrangements provided a logical architectural solution and also best met the service and structural engineers requirements to achieve the most economical solutions with regards to orientation and grouping.
The form and location of the Lecture Theatre are the pivotal elements of the building. Rather than being the traditional rectangular box the Lecture Theatre is almost oval in shape, enclosed in ‘blue’ curved walls. Externally the curved form of the Lecture Theatre is fully expressed in smooth, Heriot-Watt blue, metal cladding, projecting out from the building facade, giving the building presence while allowing it to flow seamlessly around the corner. This ‘drum’ creates a strong ‘iconic’ image from near and far, projecting out from the generally rigid linear form of the new and adjacent buildings creating a distinctive foil and landmark.
Client: Heriot-Watt University
Architects: Hypostyle Architects
Quantity Surveyors: Storrier & Donaldson
Structural Engineers: ARUPScotland
M&E Engineers: ARUPScotland
Landscape Consultants: Weddle Design
Acoustic Consultant: Charlie Fleming Associates
CDM Coordinator: Alan Haxton
Main Contractor: Interserve
