Date: 25 May 09
Author: Caroline Ednie, Web Editor
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The new development at Potterrow is the first significant step towards the realisation of a masterplan for George Square and Bristo Square prepared by Edinburgh University. It replaces a windswept car park with a rich mix of buildings, courtyards and reinstated street lines.
Home to the world class School of Informatics, the new building brings their 600 research staff under one roof for the first time, and places the School in the city centre where strong links with other departments and commerce can be forged.
Collaboration between disciplines is vital to the School of Informatics. The brief called for a building for interaction as well as cellular office space. Circulation routes engage with various meeting places including coffee points, stairs and printing areas to foster communication between staff. At the heart of the building is the Forum, a five storey atrium space, through which the scenic lifts and main circulation stairs climb. Break-out spaces and roof terraces have dramatic views back to the Forum and across the Edinburgh skyline.
The sustainability of the scheme is founded on long life, loose fit, flexible accommodation that is readily adaptable to future change. The low energy strategy includes careful regulation of glazed areas, windows that can be opened, displacement ventilation, exposed thermal mass and night time air purging.
Integration into the University’s combined heat and power system has further reduced the scheme’s carbon footprint. Operational Emissions are targeted to be 41kg/CO2/m2/yr, which represents a 46% reduction against the current good practice benchmark.
The design is rated BREEAM Excellent, and was the first project in Scotland to embark on a BREEAM assessment through construction, thus ensuring that design aspirations are delivered.
Post occupancy studies will evaluate user satisfaction and the building’s environmental systems. This is a common thread in Bennetts Associates work that strives for actual performance to meet design expectations, but also informs future projects with invaluable feedback.
Externally, the pre fabricated elevations play on the distinction between the stone faced streets of Edinburgh, and the need for more light reflective surfaces to the courtyard. Façade rhythms respond to the neighbouring streets, with Charles Street being the major pedestrian thoroughfare with the greatest need for animation and Potterrow being more regular.
Phase 2 (4,000m2) is occupied by Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. Phase 3 (9,000m2) has planning approval and will complete the courtyard and the Potterrow street line.
Project: Informatics Forum, The University of Edinburgh
Architect: Bennetts Associates
Client: Edinburgh University
Location: Potterow, Edinburgh
Link: http://www.bennettsassociates.com
Images: Keith Hunter Photography
what does informatics forum mean? what are they doing in there ? (sorry for asking the stupid question)
The Informatics Forum is the Departmental Building for the School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh. They do research in Informatics (Computer Science, AI, Cognitive Science, Linguistics, Bioinformatics, etc. etc.)