Planning permission for two major new buildings
23 April 2007
Full planning permission has been awarded to Canterbury Christ Church University for two major new buildings in Canterbury - a state-of-the-art sports centre and a new flagship library and learning centre.
Computer generated image of Augustine House
The planning applications for both developments were approved by members of Canterbury City Council’s Planning Committee at their meeting on Tuesday 27th March 2007.
The £4 million Christ Church Sports Centre is due to be completed by Easter 2008 and the £30 million library and learning centre, to be known as Augustine House, will open in summer 2009. The construction of Augustine House will be the University’s single largest development in Canterbury since its first campus was built in 1963.
Christ Church Sport Centre will be built on land belonging to Barton Court Grammar School and will provide students and staff from both institutions with first rate sporting facilities. The centre will offer a good quality venue for sports, exercise, matches and events along with a range of learning and recreational opportunities.
Computer generated image of Christ Church Sports Centre
The University will demolish Clarkson House, a former 1970s office block situated on Rhodaus Town to build Augustine House. The University’s new flagship building will provide integrated library, learning resource centre and student support facilities, with flexible conference and exhibition areas.
Full planning permission for both projects is subject to several conditions. With regards to Augustine House, the University has agreed to make a further financial contribution to the cost of the local highway infrastructure, a pedestrian crossing and an underpass. The University has also agreed to consider the use of flint in the palette of materials for the site. With regards to Christ Church Sports Centre, the University has agreed to explore the possibility of alternative access routes to the Centre and use cladding to improve the look of the building. The University has also agreed to restrict membership to staff and students and to use the building for examinations between May and June only.
Notes to Editor
Augustine House
The University plans to demolish ‘Clarkson House’, a former 1970s office block, which is situated in Rhodaus Town in the heart of Canterbury, and build in its place a modern teaching and learning development called ‘Augustine House.’ The demolition will take place in autumn 2007 and the new building will be completed by summer 2009.
The four-floor development, which will stand at 19 metres in height over a projected are of 12,000 m², will house a library and learning centre with an extensive collection of academic literature; a range of learning zones to meet different needs; and excellent IT facilities for staff and students. Augustine House will accommodate all ‘student facing services’, providing a single point of call for enquiries and support.
It will also feature a café; two garden terraces, one with views of the Cathedral; an atrium; and multi-purpose floor space for public events, exams, teaching and exhibitions. The plans also allow for landscaping, cycle access, pedestrian, walkways and limited operational parking, fully supporting the University’s sustainability agenda. Its central location lends itself to ease of access as a venue for internal and external events.
Architects Design Partnership LLP has designed the plans for Augustine House. ADP’s design provides two rectilinear blocks either side of a central atrium. Diagonal slots have been “scribed” into these rectangular forms, relating to the interior to two key oblique views from the building: towards the Cathedral and to Dane John Mound (the remains of the Roman burial, just behind the medieval city walls and ramparts).
This diagonal geometry is reinforced by a series of bridges and platforms that link the two wings of the building, creating a dynamic heart to the building, and encouraging interaction and activity. Internal functions are “layered” from this heart of the building, with progressively quieter and more private areas towards the perimeter.
The front façade will be in structural glazing, providing reflections of the city walls opposite during the day, and allowing views into the building from the ring road at night. Combinations of reconstituted stone, metal and glass will be used in various shades of grey, inspired by the colours of the historic flint wall opposite the site, and expressing the key components of the building: rectilinear flexible space, diagonal slots, and angular service cores.
The project is on a brownfield site, close to excellent public transport links and will use geothermal heat pumps integrated with the piling installation. Exposed concrete soffits will be used as thermal stores, reducing heating and cooling loads, whilst roof terraces will provide contrasting external spaces for users. Current indications are that the BREEAM rating will be very good.
Christ Church Sports Centre
The sports centre supports the government’s campaign to promote health and fitness, combat obesity and provide young people with good quality, easily accessible sports facilities. The sports centre features two full-sized netball/basketball courts within which there will be provision for other sports including volleyball, badminton and cricket; a fitness suit with cardiovascular and weights equipment; changing rooms with locker rooms, shower and toilet facilities; office spaces; a first aid room; and an aerobics room offering a range of dance and exercise classes. The Centre could also feature a soundproof partition for the middle of the sports hall so that it can be used simultaneously by Barton Court and University students as well as having separate sets of changing rooms.
Contacts
Claire Robinson, Media Relations Officer,
Canterbury Christ Church University,
01227 782391, claire.robinson@canterbury.ac.uk
David Cutts, External Relations Assistant,
Canterbury Christ Church University,
01227 782826, d.cutts@canterbury.ac.uk
Contact Details:
Claire Robinson
01227 782391
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