News
Award Winning Architecture Brings Cutting-Edge Technologies Together Under One Roof
By: Catherine O'Sullivan
Source: CH2M HILL
8 June 2009 - A CH2M HILL project, the Mountbatten Building, for the University of Southampton has received a prestigious award from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
RIBA Awards are presented annually for architectural excellence, and recipients can be short-listed for the Stirling Prize as RIBA's choice of 'Building of the Year'. The judges commented the building design allowed it to 'embody 21st century scientific research in a sustainable, academic setting.'
The new £55m Mountbatten Building houses the University's School of Electronics and Computer Sciences (ECS) and the Optoelectonics Research Centre (ORC), providing a leading edge, multidisciplinary and state-of-the-art clean room complex. The building is a key element in maintaining the University of Southampton's reputation as a world renowned centre for nanotechology and photonics.
The project had a challenging brief - marrying the demands of cleanroom and laboratory technology with office space, utility and ancillary buildings, whilst providing an exciting and stimulating learning and working environment for both students and academic staff. The innovative design used the building's external walls as a "glass curtain" to the cleanrooms and laboratories. The fractal pattern which is based on a fractal discovered at the university, is continuous around the glass plinth, allowing natural light and provides the general public with a rare view of the normally hidden work of scientific research.
Sustainable principles were incorporated in the design, with the use of low energy features such as evaporative free cooling, natural ventilation, utilisation of existing waste heat and rainwater harvesting - the completed building consumes 65 percent less energy than would have been achieved using conventional design solutions.
We are delighted that RIBA has recognised the outstanding architecture of the Mountbatten Building with this award, commented Roy Hill, CH2M HILL's Managing Director. It reflects CH2M HILL's belief that intelligent, sustainable design and architecture can be successfully married to produce cutting-edge facilities, which provide attractive working environments, while also minimising environmental impact.
CH2M HILL led the project and provided the overall design, technical architecture, mechanical, electrical and process design, clean room design and project management. Jestico + Whiles were the architects responsible for designing the building envelope and general internal architecture. Gifford was the structural engineer.
View a video on the award-winning facility at the University of Southampton's Web site.