Project of the week

WHAT: An addition to Anglia Polytechnic University, providing extra teaching and office space. The top floor consists of a large open plan space with a south-facing external roof terrace, which is used for social and corporate functions. The building recently won a Civic Trust Award for its contribution to the region’s built environment.

WHEN: The 45-week project was completed a little over a year ago.

HOW MUCH: £8.5m.

CONTRACT: Design and Build Project, two stage.

WHO: QS: Gardiner & Theobald, project manager: Mace, architect: Wilkinson Eyre, contractor: Verry Construction, client: Anglia Polytechnic University, structural engineer: Buro Happold.

ARCHITECT’S VIEW: “The sustainability and environmental efficiency were important design drivers and to a large extent the buildings appearance is strongly derived from environmental considerations. The energy consumption levels predicted are approximately half that of benchmark levels from efficient academic buildings.” – Wilkinson Eyre.

CONTRACTOR’S VIEW: “Although challenging, this project was particularly rewarding due to the teamwork involved and the impressive end result. The environmental factors designed into the scheme were probably the most complex aspects for us as contractor. But numerous workshops were held from the outset to develop ideas and ensure that the whole project team was fully integrated and understood the objectives behind the design.” – Verry Construction.

VITAL STATS: The development has a gross external floor area of 4,384m2 and includes a 160-seat auditorium and a number of teaching spaces, ranging from 10 to 50-person seminar rooms.