The AUB Design Workshops & Studios Conversions consist of the transformation of two former on-campus halls of residence, originally constructed in 2001, into modern studio and teaching space for Arts University Bournemouth’s internationally renowned higher education courses.

The success of the institution, and the wider changing demands of higher education, instigated a reappraisal of the Halls’ use as part of Design Engine’s 2009 vision for the future masterplan for the University.

The outline brief was to facilitate the wider transformation of the campus with the re-use of buildings whose original function had become redundant, but whose structure and envelope remained largely sound.

Collaboratively, the design team undertook a programme analysis that demonstrated how through the retention of the existing buildings the University could both achieve delivery of new teaching space each year, and at significant saving against that of a new building.

The university’s Model-Making, Performance Make-Up and preparation for Higher Education departments were identified as having commonality in their specialised and technical requirements, and by sharing facilities could reduce unnecessary duplication. Design Engine led a series of stakeholder design forums, helping formulate a brief for their needs within the constraints of working with an existing building. Heavyweight, highly-serviced mechanised modelling and prosthetic workshops are concentrated on the ground floor. This enables a structural strategy for a new steel frame to be inserted with the outer masonry skin, thus allowing the removal of cellular loadbearing partitions to create large open plan studios, which in turn facilitate the proposed natural ventilation strategies.

A series of ground floor extensions for 3D printing spill out onto re-landscaped courtyards. These extensions act as shop windows advertising the output for the courses; fulfilling a desire to showcase work and continue the cross-fertilisation of ideas across the wider campus.

The buildings are capped by a series of saw-tooth north-facing roof lights atop a raised roof podium providing even natural daylighting to new drawing studios for model-making, illustration and fashion design students. Clad in telemagenta pink, they point to a concept of feature surfaces and planes that highlight new interventions into the existing fabric.

The transformation of the building is completed with a perforated aluminium veil over the existing building at first and second floor. A pattern of two sized circular apertures is formed into a randomised arrangment that extends across the upper façades. Working within the grids of both the former window arrangements and new steel structure, the 50% overall free area pattern allows continued venting whilst regulating excessive solar gain.

Delivered on programme, the project has been a huge success for the University, allowing it to build on the success of its oversubscribed creative courses and facilitating a wider strategic programme of campus renewal.

At the Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), WPL had a great opportunity to work alongside Design Engine Architects to install perforated panel cladding. The final effect at AUB produces a unique façade emulated across two of the main teaching buildings and more of the same across the campus. The team had bounds of artistic licence, where our more usual symmetry was set aside in favour of this totally random installation with perforations of differing positions and diameter. Because the perforated panels have a visually open area the existing unsightly brick façade that had been painted black is present behind the silver metallic façade and offers a very attractive contrast in colours. The façade also doubles up as a solar shading system for the areas of glazing to reduce solar gain into the building whilst maintaining the optimal amount of natural light into the building. The benefits also extend to the reduction of energy used to maintain ideal room temperatures which in turn is more environmentally friendly. Perforated circles are a popular choice for architects specifying perforated panels but what differs in the AUB pattern is the unique arrangement of varying hole sizes. The building is rectangular as is the existing brick façade so the circles create distinction against what was previously quite a dull looking building. WPL’s perforated panel cladding is used as a decorative façade at AUB which gave the building a new lease of life but this type of cladding is a very versatile product. It is used in a large array of applications from architectural feature facades right through to cladding that needs to meet high technical performance specifications like for example sound or weather proof barriers.

Established in 1885 the Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is a leading university offering high quality specialist education in Art, Design, Media and Performance across the creative industries.

Michael Grubb Studio was initially appointed by AUB to produce a Lighting Masterplan for the campus. The Masterplan considered the lit environment, operational requirements, student welfare, safety, key events / activities and how artificial light could be used to improve wayfinding and develop a sense of place after dark. It also allowed for inconsistencies with the existing lighting to be addressed with clear guidelines for future lighting schemes to adhere to.

Following on from devising a Lighting Masterplan, Michael Grubb Studio delivered a new lighting scheme that considered the lit environment, the operational requirements of the campus, student’s welfare, safety, key events/activities and how artificial light could be used to improve way finding and develop a sense of place after dark.

The work with AUB has been recognised and rewarded on a wider scale. This includes RIBA Regional Award; Brick Award shortlist; SPACES highly commended award; Innovation Civic Building; SPACES client of the year.

The project has been undertaken over 3 phases of work / time. Phase One consisted of two Student Blocks, Selected Building Facades and various Landscape Areas. All lighting schemes were developed in collaboration with award winning architects Design Engine and Landscape Designers Hyland Edgar Driver (HED).

Materials used

The transformation of the building is completed with a perforated aluminium veil over the existing building at first and second floor. A pattern of two sized circular apertures is formed into a randomised arrangement that extends across the upper façades. Working within the grids of both the former window arrangements and new steel structure, the 50% overall free area patterns allows continued venting whilst regulating excessive solar gain. Linear LEDs were incorporated within then design to provide impact by night.

Various lighting tests and prototypes were developed before the final lighting solution could be integrated within the architecture.

Issues Faced

Delivering the new lighting scheme was centered on a way to enhance architecture, improve movement around the campus, create a distinctive lit environment and above all else, champion the creative thinking of AUB.

Whilst a complex project to interpret, that involved reconfiguring previous installations and reusing existing luminaries (where possible), it followed a consistent approach that adhered to the Masterplan. Layers of vertical and horizontal illumination emphasise key elements of the scheme.

Colour has also played a significant part. It now helps orientate and define key spaces within the campus. A series of control sequences are integrated within the scheme to provide impact.