June 13 2019

The University of Glasgow has filed plans for the latest slice of its Western Campus vision with detailed plans for the Institute of Health & Wellbeing.

Designed by Atkins the institute boasts a prominent location within the masterplan between Byres Road and New University Square, serving as a gateway to the wider campus with active street frontages on all sides and a heavy horizontal emphasis.

Upper facades will be formed predominantly from red (bronze) anodised aluminium, repeating the solid to void ratio prevalent in neighbouring tenements, with strong contrasting roughhewn string courses finished in dark granite.

Stone will also be deployed to create large format sculptural signage opportunities at the main entrances.

In their design statement, Atkins observed: “The strong horizontal datum terminating the street level facade is designed to relate to the corresponding feature of the research hub providing a continuous approach as buildings engage with the new square, allowing the submitted proposal to clearly relate to both old and new contexts.”

A setback upper floor will be finished in silver anodized aluminium to the north-west corner with the intent of lowering the eaves line toward Byres Road.

2 Comments

#1 Posted by spikebrown on 16 Jun 2019 at 17:56 PM

why not finish it in red sandstone instead of the cheaper looking anodised aluminium?

#2 Posted by Gandalf the Pink on 17 Jun 2019 at 08:41 AM

You answered your own question there.

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