Avenue Campus Northampton : Architecture Competition

5 Nov 2008 University launches Avenue Campus design competition The University of Northampton has launched a design competition for architects to plan future developments at its 14.5 acre Avenue Campus on St. George’s Avenue in Northampton. The aim is to further enhance the site’s leading role as a centre for Arts and Applied Sciences education and research over the next 20 years, as well as to support community engagement. Gill Winder, Director of Estates at the University, said: “We are inviting architects and planners to enter a competition to ‘master plan’ the University’s Avenue Campus, including the design of new facilities to be integrated within the Campus. “The Master Plan will predict the development of the Campus over the next 15-20 years, embracing short term accommodation needs, and longer term plans for growth in Arts, Sciences and Technology, community facilities, and business engagement. “The competition brief also includes plans for the inclusion of new teaching spaces, a cinema, performance space and gallery, together with a restaurant and bar, all of which will expand public access to the University's facilities, particularly during evenings and weekends.” The competition is a two-stage process and is open to all professional architects registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB) or an equivalent EU registration authority. The process is being supported by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). The process will actively seek input from stakeholders such as residents, the business community, regional agencies and local authorities as well as comment from the students and staff at the University and our collaborative partners. The stage one brief for the competition encourages competitors to demonstrate the flexibility, innovation and architectural merit of their proposals and will be available in a week’s time. Closing date for first stage submissions is 17 December 2008. University of Northampton Avenue Campus information from RIBA 051108