grimshaw completes their largest educational facility for southampton university

grimshaw completes their largest educational facility for southampton university
image © diane auckland / fotohaus

british firm grimshaw architects has completed their largest higher education scheme of the masterplan and construction of the university of southampton’s boldrewood innovation campus. the inaugural opening was recently celebrated, where the 4.3 hectare site has been occupied by four buildings and united through the structure’s material palette composed mainly of jura limestone, zinc panels, terracotta, aluminium, glass and cedar boarding.

on east and west facades the louvres are vertical, on south facades they are horizontal
image © jim stephenson

the dynamic campus hopes to accommodate students and researchers with the opportunity of real life case studies along with access to cutting-edge research. each building is orientated towards a central sloping lawn with the interiors designed with careful consideration of the circulation aspect – illustrated through the concept of a central atrium with acoustic properties. encompassing a nautical theme, the £140m scheme includes a hydro science facility with a 138m towing and wave tank, two large wind tunnels, coupled with water flumes for the detailed study of fluid dynamics.

neven sidor, grimshaw’s partner in charge of the project, comments: ‘it is unusual for a single architectural practice to be responsible for both the master plan and all the buildings within it and we were acutely aware of the need to balance the harmony of the whole against the individuality of its parts. we have therefore developed a family of buildings, deriving unity from a shared materials palette and diversity from the proportions with which these materials have been used. these are refined and understated buildings with a character informed by crisp and simple detailing.’

grimshaw collaborated with the southampton marine, maritime institute and lloyd’s register global technology center
image © diane auckland / fotohaus

the marine theming of the staircase reflects the ‘ship’s hull’ shown by the zinc clad and U-shaped floor plates
image © jim stephenson

the £140m scheme is the architecture practice’s largest european university project to date
image © jim stephenson

sustainability in design has been employed including night time thermal storage through exposed concrete soffits
image © jim stephenson

the hydro science facility holds a 138m towing and wave tank, two large wind tunnels and flumes
image © jim stephenson