Press Release: Feb 2008

YRM Architects complete contemporary extension to Brunel University School of Engineering and appointed for new Business School


Robert Suchlow

The Michael Sterling Building at Brunel University’s School of Engineering in Uxbridge, West London, designed by architects YRM has been completed.

The 5000m2, £8.1m scheme accommodates design studios, administrative offices, meeting rooms, the University Chancellery, an extension to the Business School and atrium space for exhibitions and critiques which forms a physical connection to the adjacent Wilfred Brown building.

This distinctive top-lit circular University Chancellery, accessed via a single storey glazed link, provides a striking presence on the university street.

Nigel Wooding, Associate Director at YRM, said:

‘One of our of our main achievements has been to design new public areas and central space to accommodate a variety of activities. They provide a setting for events and exhibitions, create a real sense of drama and theatre to the academic use, provide a more appropriate sense of space for the university governance activities, and physically integrate these diverse functions into a single building.’



MICHAEL STERLING BUILDING DETAILS

ARCHITECT: YRM
PROJECT MANAGER: MACE
QS: Currie & Brown
CONTRACTOR: Pierse Contracting Ltd.
CLIENT: Brunel University
CONTRACT VALUE: £8.1m
INTERIORS: YRM
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Adams Kara Taylor
M&E ENGINEER: Cundall

DESIGN TO COMPLETION
COMMISSIONED: July 2005
PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED: March 2006
START ON SITE: March 2006
OCCUPIED: December 2007

YRM has also been appointed by Brunel University to design their new £22m Eastern Gateway Building on their Uxbridge campus, sited opposite YRM’s School of Health Sciences (The Mary Seacole Building), which was opened in 2006. The Eastern Gateway Building is to provide a new integrated home for the hitherto fragmented Brunel Business School. In addition, it will form a new ‘front door’ to the university, with conference and events facilities including a multi-purpose public facing auditorium, the relocated Beldam art gallery, a cafe and associated social facilities.

The brief calls for a striking building, achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, which will strengthen the brand identity of the university and signpost the architectural quality of the campus from the public realm. The building forms an important part of the long term development plan for Brunel and will be designed with future expansion options in mind.

Peter Stocker, Director at YRM Architects, said:

‘The Eastern Gateway Building is the third and largest in the series of YRM framework projects at Brunel. This prominent site and the diversity of uses make it a wonderful challenge and opportunity to develop the architectural and environmental agenda that has informed our work to date on the site.’

EASTERN GATEWAY BUILDING DETAILS

ARCHITECT: YRM
PROJECT MANAGER: MACE
QS: Turner & Townsend
CONTRACTOR: Pierse Contracting Ltd.
CLIENT: Brunel University
CONTRACT VALUE: £8.1m
INTERIORS: YRM
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Adams Kara Taylor
M&E ENGINEER: Cundall



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