ARU Peterborough University House

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Higher Education

The new £30 million building is a transformational project, both educationally and architecturally. The project creates a new place for Peterborough that is integrated in the surrounding city fabric. University House is located adjacent to Bishop’s Road, making close physical and visual links to the city centre and cathedral. As the campus develops, it will provide wider links to the Embankment and the River Nene.

The project transforms a 400-space at grade car park to a green, welcoming, openly accessible landscaped campus, providing places for people to enjoy and for nature to flourish.

The existing range of courses by ARU is reflected in the rich mix of spaces arranged over 3 floors around a central ‘heart’ of informal learning to encourage interaction, collaboration and peer learning. These include spaces for large collaborative lectures, specialist skills, study, library, workspaces and general teaching.

A multi-purpose space and external terrace offers views back to the city and the cathedral, reinforcing the links to the city centre. Learning and Teaching is made visible through large areas of glazing that will allow views into the learning spaces and out to the landscape. The spaces are designed to allow for easy reconfiguration to respond to future needs.

Sustainability has been integral to the design development. People are prioritised ahead of cars by encouraging arrival on foot, the provision of over 140 sheltered bike spaces and good connections to public transport. Large roof lanterns maximise daylight and natural ventilation, supported by green roofs and photovoltaics providing renewable energy. The project has been designed to connect to the city’s Energy from Waste project in the future to offer low carbon energy for the campus.

The project, designed by MCW as part of a multi-disciplinary team led by Mace, was completed on time and to budget, opening to students in September 2022.