Design Engine Architects Ltd

John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building

John Henry Brookes and Abercrombie Building

Design Engine Architects

John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane

ARCHITECTS
Design Engine

CATEGORY
Campus, University

LOCATION
Oxford, United Kingdom

YEAR
2014

MANUFACTURERS
Rieder Group, Hahn Lamellenfenster, Zumtobel

PHOTOGRAPHS
Nick Kane

PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR
Laing O'Rourke

Cost 
£83,020,000

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Land Use Consultants

STRUCTURAL AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
Ramboll UK

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, FIRE CONSULANTS
Grontmij

CATERING CONSULTANTS
Tricon Foodservice Consultants

SIGNAGE CONSULTANTS
Holmes Wood

FACADE ACCESS CONSULTANTS
Reef

ACCESS CONSULTANTS
QMP

PROJECT MANAGER AND COST CONSULTANTS
Turner & Townsend

ACOUSTIC CONSULTANTS
Sandy Brown Associates

John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane

Text description provided by architect.

PURPOSE

In the context of historic piecemeal development, the need to address the campus as a whole was recognised. This was then enabled by the production of a masterplan in 2007.

Originating as a standalone student centre, the concept was developed to more fundamentally and visibly connect the existing campus, and in doing so provide a suite of internal and external spaces of the highest quality, as befits the University’s academic status.

APPROACH

The design approach was closely allied to this ambition, and one of environmental performance. Close coordination between environmental engineer and architect was undertaken from the outset to develop and test iterations of the design in a virtual environment.


The integration of structure, services and architectural elements brought similarly close, collaborative working amongst the design team.

John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane
John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane

CONSTRUCTION METHOD

The building is principally of a hybrid insitu and precast concrete construction. Structural materials, in particular concrete, are integral to the appearance and environmental performance of the building.

These are placed alongside and in contrast with other, largely self-finished materials. The exposed concrete provides thermal mass, which tempers heating and cooling loads in parallel with natural ventilation.

Concrete’s robustness is appropriate, and its use allows partitions to be demountable, providing a flexibility of accommodation in anticipation of changing teaching patterns.

Precast elements are largely used where benefit can be gained from repetition. In situ elements include geometrically and structurally more complex components. 

John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane
John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane

PROCUREMENT

The project was subject of a two stage tender, with a ‘mini package’ process to select the final contractor from a shortlist of 2. Tender packages were reviewed in an open book forum for transparency and best value.

Early contractor involvement enabled by the two-stage tender facilitated familiarisation with a large and complex construction project, development of construction methodologies and the bespoke facade systems. The project was undertaken under an NEC3 traditional contract. 

John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane

Ambition for architectural quality derived from the brief. Rigorous review was undertaken, including by the South East Regional Design Panel as part of the Planning process.

Functional quality was addressed similarly, a consultation and briefing process included meeting with the University's Environmental Group.Close coordination among a design team incorporating specialist consultants addressed these ambitions.

Off-site manufacturing was used where appropriate. A unitised facade system allowed dimensional accuracy, environmental performance, and speed of construction.

John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane

Full size mock-ups of concrete frame and facade elements allowed quality to be assessed and improved prior to fabrication. A full time on-site consultant team, the main contractor and specialist subcontractors worked closely to develop and coordinate subcontractor design.

In conjunction with the NEC3 contract this organisation allowed timely identification and resolution of issues.

John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane
John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane

VALUE RESPONSE

The project is of a scale not previously undertaken by the University. As such, it was subject to a process of tight cost control. Ultimate value perhaps derives from the realisation of an intervention on such a scale, in one step. As such, benefit to the experience of students, staff and public alike is greater than separate smaller buildings.

Since the opening of its new Abercrombie building in 2012, the School of Architecture has enjoyed an appreciable rise in applications to its courses, one indicator of the project’s success.

John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane
John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
© Nick Kane


The beginning of a great modern cathedral of learning’ Shami Chakrabarti, Oxford Brookes Chancellor, speaking at the opening of the new Abercrombie building.


John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
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John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
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John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
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John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
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John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
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John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
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John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
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John Henry Brookes And Abercrombie Building
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Design Engine Architects Ltd
T +44 1962 890111
Design Engine Architects Ltd
The Studios, Coker Cl, Winchester SO22 5FF, United Kingdom