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Bond Bryan are delighted to see that their latest project for the University of Sheffield – the Engineering Heartspace – has now reached practical completion.
The Engineering Heartspace sits beneath a dramatic undulating glass roof structure, providing a unique space for the whole of the faculty. The quadruple height atrium, inserted between the Grade II listed Mappin Building and the 1885 Central Wing, offers highly-serviced laboratories, offices and a café – as well as providing a collaboration space for students and staff from various departments.
A new entrance connection to Portobello Street provides an additional destination on the pedestrian route that links a range of campus facilities including the Students’ Union, the Information Commons (Learning Centre) and the University’s ‘Diamond’ building.
The contemporary curved roof design contrasts with the existing formal brick buildings – floating across the tops of the existing roofs and creating a clear distinction between the old and the new. However, the design takes visual cues from the Mappin Building’s original “Star of David” ventilation outlets with its own interlocking triangular glass and solid roof panels. The new triangular steel ‘tree’ columns are also deliberately positioned to frame key features of the existing buildings.
Matt Hutton, Director said: “We are all absolutely thrilled to see this project finally come to fruition; it has been an extremely challenging scheme from inception through to completion. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of a project so rich in heritage to the local area and so innovative in ambition: the simple concept – of having a curved highly-engineered roof adjacent to the robust/rational brick walls and slate roofs of the historic existing buildings – is about celebrating the engineering of both the past and the present, inviting the building’s users to examine both in more detail. This is what conservation should be about – engaging with the user and the wider public and bringing these buildings back to the prominence they deserve.”
Keith Lilley, Director of Estates and Facilities Management at the University of Sheffield, said that he was delighted with the finished building.
“This has been an incredibly ambitious and demanding project, but it was absolutely worth it. Two of our oldest buildings have been fully refurbished and brought up to the high standards required for today’s learning and teaching environment, whilst still retaining their historical significance. And the central atrium provides a stunning setting for a whole new space which will significantly enhance the University experience for students and staff.”
The Heartspace development will provide the University with a total gross internal floor area of around 12,400sqm of combined new build with refurbished and reconfigured existing space.
“There can’t be many companies in Sheffield with a more spectacular base than Bond Bryan’s converted church in Crookes – but then you’d expect no less for a firm of architects. We meet up with Managing Director Jonathan Herbert and Director Matthew Hutton.
Find out how the industry has grown and the challenges they’ve overcome along the way – and some of the awe-inspiring buildings they’ve designed. Steel City Business is the Sheffield Business podcast, highlighting the great stuff happening within the business community here in Sheffield. Each episode features a company or organisation based in or around the city – from the big ones right down to the sole traders. If it’s happening in Sheffield, we’ll be covering it. It’s brought to you by the team at Rebel Base Media, the Sheffield-based podcasting experts.
Find out more at steelcitybusiness.com
LTE Group has received planning permission from Manchester City Council to build a state-of-the-art campus for Creative and Digital Industries, in Manchester city centre for The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester
The landmark four-storey development – due for completion from spring 2022 – is the centrepiece of the LTE Group, The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester’s masterplan to create the next generation of industry excellence.
LTE Group Chief Executive John Thornhill said: “The planning approval now allows the greatest investment in Further Education and skills the UK has seen for more than 30 years, and it’s happening right here in Manchester and Greater Manchester at The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester.
“This is one of a series of investments the LTE Group is making to support local industrial strategies, inclusive growth and local communities. Today’s decision allows us to move to the next stage in the project and we will have more exciting news early in 2020.”
The campus, located opposite the Arena and Manchester Victoria Station, is the first of a two-phase vision for the site, and will become home to the College’s Centre of Excellence for Creative and Digital Industries, and UCEN Manchester’s Arden School of Theatre and Manchester Film School.
It will boast two industry-standard theatres and two film studios as well as media, computing and editing suites, recording and photography studios, dance studios and rehearsal rooms and bespoke practical spaces for media make-up and special effects.
Lisa O’Loughlin, Principal of The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received planning permission for our new city centre campus. This is one of the largest and most ambitious estates transformation projects ever undertaken by a Further Education (FE) college in the UK.
“The approval marks the start of a major £140m new-build and refurbishment programme that will eventually see new centres of industry excellence across Manchester, delivering an exciting curriculum for our students.”
Phase two will see the creation of a Centre of Excellence for Business, Financial and Professional Services on the same site, following completion of the first and subject to the securing of additional funding.
Students will benefit from specialist facilities and a curriculum that is designed and delivered in partnership with leading employers, enabling them to access highly-skilled careers in key growth sectors of the region’s economy.
Leading architects Bond Bryan and SimpsonHaugh have been tasked with bringing the project to life. Matt Hutton, Director at Bond Bryan, said: “We are truly delighted to reveal our designs for The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester’s new city centre project. We have been working – alongside our collaborative partners, SimpsonHaugh – on this design from inception and now look forward to delivering it, together with the team.
“Integrally social – with modern architectural planning and detailing – the site will be much more than ‘just’ an educational space: it will invite you to connect with fellow students and friends in curated areas – designed and built for people to socialise and work together”.
David Green, Director at SimpsonHaugh, added: “We are thrilled to have achieved planning approval for this important new facility.
“The building will be open, welcoming and accessible and will provide innovative and exciting spaces for learning which are testament to a client with high ambitions for the College and the city.
“We hope that this new development will set the tone for the redevelopment of the Great Ducie Street area as a whole, as a neighbourhood in which to study, work, live and play, and we look forward to delivering the project on site.”
Construction is due to commence in spring 2020, with the campus fully operational by autumn 2022.
The current Minister of State for Housing & Planning, Esther McVey, has recently visited the Bond Bryan-designed’ Factory 2050 in the AMRC. She announced the government’s ambition for a new ‘centre of excellence’ for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in the north at Factory 2050 – part of the University of Sheffield AMRC – where she met with major developers, small businesses, academics and apprentices.
Bond Bryan commented: “we have long championed the Sheffield City Region as the prospective ‘nerve centre’ for offsite, MMC and modular homes within the UK – and there is a no more suitable location than the AMRC. This belief has now been demonstrated by the UK Government’s visit to the AMRC last month – and it was no surprise to see them promote their confidence in the AMRC as an incubator for accelerated construction to provide the homes that this country crucially needs.
At Bond Bryan, we have always been excited by the inter-disciplinary influences found in offsite construction – sitting at the core of advanced manufacturing techniques rather than the sometimes restrictive nature of traditional methods. Taking this into consideration, we are well-placed to drive growth in the offsite homes sector with an abundance of experience and expertise in offsite construction – from the education and commercial sectors – which we will bring into the residential market. Our clients clearly see our proven offsite construction experience in other sectors – that are typically more advanced than residential – as a critical partnership to facilitate their growth within this market”
Bond Bryan have two residential schemes that will be realised next year and an offsite ‘task group’ has been set up that brings together the best experience within the business in order to offer a sector-wide expertise for clients at the forefront of offsite construction.
To watch the video of Esther McVey at Factory 2050 click here.
After winning a series of high-profile new commissions in Birmingham and the West Midlands, Bond Bryan Architects have announced expansion of their Birmingham studio with a move to new premises in Cavendish House on Waterloo Street.
Previously, Bond Bryan have designed many major projects in the region – including The National College for High Speed Rail, Harbourne Academy, Magna in Telford, Coventry and Aston Fire Stations and Sandwell College and Sixth Form. They are also currently delivering Lindsworth SEN School together with Polesworth and Oscott Manor Schools.
Bond Bryan have recently completed the WMG Degree Apprenticeship Centre at Warwick University and are currently working on the Warwick Arts Centre and the expansion of the Business School. The practice has 135 staff and this investment in the expansion of the Birmingham studio will be supported by Bond Bryan’s studios in London, Sheffield and Kent.
Fran Holloway, Associate Director, will be heading up the Birmingham studio. Fran commented:
“As a local architect working in Birmingham for the last 20 years, this is a great and exciting opportunity to lead the continued growth of our Birmingham studio in the heart of the Midlands; the region is continuing to flourish with a vision and a drive which we are keen to continue to be a part of.”
Bond Bryan Director for Birmingham Bruce Raw added:
“After many years of growing our practice’s reputation in the region, we are very excited to start this next chapter in our development. Moving into our new studio will allow us the space to grow to meet our clients’ needs by building a strong local team – living, working and delivering projects here in the West Midlands. Our decision to invest is in response to the real joined-up thinking that we see across the region which is creating a real sense of confidence in the region’s future.”
Bond Bryan designed, new development at St Dunstan’s College to commence on site.
Leading Education experts, Bond Bryan, have been appointed by St Dunstan’s College to design and deliver their new Junior School, STEM building and Sixth Form Hub at a co-educational independent school in Catford, London.
The development, which will begin on site in January, will be built by Willmott Dixon Construction. This development comes as a result of the College’s wider plans to redevelop the site and continue to offer world-class education in state-of-the-art facilities.
The new development will be sited adjacent to the existing historic headmaster’s house and be connected by a glass atrium. Built over two, three and four storeys, phase one will see demolition of some existing building and the construction of the new Junior School that will provide a stimulating learning environment – with specialist facilities for art, music and performance – whilst providing unrestricted access to age-appropriate sporting facilities across the elevated playing areas and the two Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs).
Phase two will see the delivery of the STEM Centre and Sixth Form Hub; these cutting-edge facilities will consolidate STEM subjects into a modern central space. The Hub will also provide university-style learning – including large independent study spaces with social areas and a café.
Speaking about the upcoming building works, St Dunstan’s Headmaster, Mr Nicholas Hewlett, said: ‘This is the most significant development of St Dunstan’s College since our Catford foundation in 1888. The innovative design of the buildings and the emphasis on STEM chimes with our original purpose that education at the College should be ‘in advance of its present time’ and we are thrilled to be working with market leaders, Willmott Dixon, in making this a reality.
‘The project will have significant impact, not only on the education we provide here, but also on our wider community – those we help to access our education and those from across Lewisham – who benefit from our facilities, both on the main College site and on the Jubilee fields’
The College’s Bursar, Mrs Clair Wilkins, added: ‘We are really looking forward to working with Willmott Dixon on this fabulous project, which we know will have such a positive impact on the St Dunstan’s community’.
Adam Worrall – Director, Willmott Dixon London & South Region – commented: ‘We are delighted to be working with St Dunstan’s College. We recognise that the College operates to a high standard; we cannot wait to support this by delivering a world-class inspirational learning space that will complement their teaching for many years to come.’
Zubin Masters, Director at Bond Bryan, explained: ‘Our design for the site delivers a bespoke solution to revitalise an established and prestigious independent school through a new elegant and contemporary brick building and associated landscape areas.
‘Architecturally, the solution aims to be a contemporary addition to the site that is a sensitive response to the historical locally-listed College building.’
Bond Bryan have been working within the education sector for over 25 years, creating exciting and flexible learning environments that make a positive difference to education outcomes which support the educational vision – but ultimately enhance young people’s lives.
Last week, Bond Bryan were ever so proud to collect the Creative Impact Award at the Sheffield Business Awards!
Hosted and judged by the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, these awards celebrate the best of Sheffield’s businesses and the Creative Impact Award “recognises businesses specialising in creative services such as design, marketing, publishing, film, architecture or the arts, that can showcase how their creative work has led directly to improved business performance.”
In an ever-changing global landscape, the businesses within the region are integral to the sustainability and growth of our creative economy. Sheffield is a city of creatives – there are a huge number of individuals and small-to-medium organisations working across the city – often collaborating, with the highest degree of creativity and innovation and all contributing towards a truly fantastic place to live, work and play.
We are honoured to have won this award against some excellent competition, but – we’re all winners here!
The Bond Bryan team were out in full-force last week, supporting the annual charity music event, Nottingham Hot Property and their ‘Singing Director’, Matthew Hutton; Nottingham-born Matt gave a fantastic rendition of Lionel Richie’s All Night Long in front of over seven hundred property professionals and was one of seventy other vocalists & musicians throughout the evening to get the crowd going and kick up a storm – all whilst helping to raise money supporting Marcellus Baz BEM for an incredibly important local charity – Switch Up and its sister organisation, The Nottingham School of Boxing – which use a combination of physical activity mentorship, counselling and education to help young people and make a positive difference to the community. Matt Hutton added: “It was such an amazing night, the atmosphere was absolutely incredible – It was also great to be singing in my home town and raising money for this particular charity”. Huge thanks to all of the sponsors, organisers and supporters including Becky Valentine,Victoria Green,Gary Matthews,Max Kwan,Siobhan Goodacre, Ashley Cowdrey for what was an incredible evening! Roll on next year!
Jonathan Herbert, Managing Director of Bond Bryan and Chair of the RIBA/Association of Colleges Client Forum, recently held a round-table discussion in response to the Augar Report. The Augar Report, led by Dr Philip Augar, detailed proposals to reform funding for Higher and Further Education.
Roger Newman, Bond Bryan Associate Director and FE sector specialist, supported Jonathan in presenting the case for improvement.
Professionals working directly within the Education sector attended this event – including representatives from the Association of Colleges, the Department for Education, Further Education Colleges, Local Economic Partnerships/Local Authorities – as well as Architects, Construction Project Managers, Cost Managers and Construction Contractors.
The discussion focused on some key proposals, including the potential for a centrally-managed capital funding regime. Participants agreed that, managed correctly, the fund should encourage all colleges to develop approved strategic estates plans. These strategic plans should follow ‘best practice’, developed in consultation with the sector.
With Strategic Plans in place, the sector can identify capital projects that will improve the condition and suitability of the FE estate, directing efforts toward efficiencies, as well as enhancing the student experience and better learning outcomes.
List of commercial organisations represented:
Bond Bryan Architects
Nicholas Hare Architects
AA Projects
Caroline Buckingham Architects
RIBA
Association of Colleges
Department for Education
Greater London Authority
Birmingham Metropolitan College
Doncaster College
Willmott Dixon Construction
ISG
Arcadis
RLB
There are some heroes amongst us who are taking part in Movember!
Movember is the leading charity tackling men’s health on a global scale – focussing particularly on prostate and testicular cancer and men’s mental health awareness and suicide prevention. A group of ‘Mo Bros’ – across our Bond Bryan Studios – are growing some extra-fabulous facial hair and, along with a Mo Sista, are taking on the 60km Move for Movember Challenge to raise awareness and funds for this fantastic cause.
If you can spare anything at all, please help support our ‘Mo Bros’ and ‘Mo Sista’ by clicking here– we will be following their progress over the coming weeks.
Good luck to all our men (and women) taking part in such a worthy cause.
For more information and support, if required, please visit the website here.
