Landmark Laboratory for Billington
12-Nov-07
Supported on circular columns the new Digital Laboratory at Warwick University will provide a landmark building for the surrounding area. Exposed feature steelwork will play a major role in the presentation of the building’s structurally aesthetic skeleton, where top quality design and high performance, steelwork fabrication techniques will be in evidence.
The digital Laboratory at Warwick University will provide a top quality research environment in the form of a flagship contemporary building. It will bind together the fragmented research facilities, consolidating effort and minimizing duplication of work. It will house multi-disciplinary teams involved in research for manufacturing, medical informatics and nanotechnology. Designed around a central concourse at first floor level where staff, students and visitors alike can discuss projects in an informal atmosphere, the building will provide a spacious, naturally lit area far removed from the dark, utilitarian buildings the name laboratory often suggests. Adaptability and flexibility was a key requirement and it will be possible to reconfigure rooms and laboratories with any major disturbance to the building. The building will house research labs, presentation rooms, lecture theatres, open plan office accommodation and demonstration facilities.
A living sedum roof will be planted adding to the local ecology, slowing down the run off of storm water and adding additional protection to the waterproof membrane. Low energy lighting, heating and cooling of the building will provide an environmentally optimum building for the academics within.
Main contractor on the project is Norwest Holst
Engineer is Arup of Solihull
Architect is Edward Cullinan (London)
For more information please contact:
Stephen Birch
Telephone....01226 340 666
Fax.................01226 755 947
Email.............sbirch@billington-structures.co.uk
