Evaluation
The Jubilee Campus of Nottingham University demonstrates how a brownfield development can become a sustainable urban landscape park setting for several university buildings. The University set ambitious goals in respect of environmental objectives - energy, traffic, waste and ground management were all targeted.
Every aspect of the design contributes towards these targets. Rigorous analysis and manipulation of the site and careful planning are combined. The 1.1ha linear lake maximises public amenity space and introduces new wildlife habitats to the campus, enhancing its ecological value. Prevailing south-westerly winds are exploited and passive solar gains are optimised by the buildings' orientation, which also gives views of the landscape and pedestrian priority over vehicles.
In order to achieve the University's commitment to use renewable product sources and to recycle waste, the landscape was designed to retain spoil and excavation materials from the former site building. Planting schemes are chosen for their ability to survive on these materials to minimise requirements for imported materials like topsoil.
The buildings are 60% more energy efficient than those on the University Park Campus and are on target for the goal of 'zero-energy buildings'. Thus photovoltaic cells within the atrium glazing are sized to meet the energy demands of the ventilation fans; rotating wind-catchers position the air exhaust so that it is always under natural suction; shade louvers, tilting blinds and awnings reduce solar glare but increase natural light, and low energy illuminants activated by occupant presence and daylight levels reduce energy consumption and energy gain.
A measure of the success of the scheme is that in spite of initial resistance from the schools chosen to be moved from the main campus, they are now happy with - and prefer - the new Jubilee campus.
Although the inverted cone of the Learning Resources Centre was considered the most dramatic architectural feature of the competition design, and is still regarded as the focal point of the whole campus, in practice the spiral ramped circulation makes moving equipment difficult. Moreover, the varying height step onto the spiralled ramp has proved a safety hazard.
The client's early scepticism about the use of prefabricated timber cladding has been overcome by the panels' excellent thermal performance. However the client is unhappy with the colour and variable weathering of the panels depending on site location. In spite of the zero maintenance (natural weathering) properties of western red cedar, they have insisted that the cedar should be oiled in future projects.
In spite of these minor points the clarity and elegance of the design, which extends to the smallest internal detailing, makes this a well-appreciated project. The Judges' citation for the Construction Industry Award reads 'Highly sustainable design and immaculate construction have delivered a sophisticated but remarkably economical result. Students will be stimulated by the complex, which has established a new benchmark for university buildings'.
