Learning and Teaching Centre

About the centre

Architect Penoyre & Prasad has designed a building that acts as a stunning centrepiece to the Quad, at the very heart of the University.

The artist's impressions here are illustrative of what could be possible by building the centre into the public space around it. However, the design's flexible learning 'rig' interior was the element that really caught the eyes of both the consultees and the judging panel.

The proposals imagine the building as a series of innovative learning and teaching spaces organised around a central spine of informal learning spaces. Refereed to the designer as a 'learning commons', the space within the building allows for an open atrium that looks to encourage collaboartive thinking, alongside individual study. All parts of the building are considered places for learning - whether that is in the multi-use space on the ground floor or the rooftop terrace and cafe.

Below is some detail from the architects' submission:

'Approaching the Quad from the main eastern campus entrance along the major east/west pedestrian route, the new LTC building acts as a gateway to the Quad. The lower two floors are highly glazed along the southern and western edges, allowing views through the Quad. Major entrances in the south east corner and onto the Quad on the west also allow for movement through the building.'

'Teaching and learning suites are organised mainly in two major clusters each comprising a double height, 120-seat room and six standard spaces arranged over two floors, and connected in between with a combination of open plan and enclosed group study areas.'

'Combined with innovative furniture, screens and wifi this allows for a wide variety of layouts and learning and teaching styles, providing spaces that can change through the simple altering of furniture arrangements. Movable partitions between the various rooms and open plan learning areas allow the spaces to expand and contract as required. This provides the day to day flexibility of space that allows groups of varying sizes to be accommodated quickly and easily.'