Building institutes of higher education

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: for the new campus and the university, providing a nucleus for the masterplan.

Case study: Middlesex Varsity

Middlesex University, based in North London has been consolidating its facilities for several years. In the year 2000 it appointed professionals to help them accomplish their masterplan. The Hendon campus, with opportunities for growth and good local transport connections was identified as the core campus and over the last eight years, the campus has grown in size and will eventually be home to 20,000 students. By consolidating a number of community based facilities, Middlesex University has released assets across London to fund the expansion at Hendon.

Hendon has grown steadily in response to the needs of the university, allowing time for the infrastructure of the local area and the campus to keep pace. Redevelopment and expansion of the Hendon campus has been phased to minimise the disruption to students where possible and has allowed Middlesex University to firm up funding for the projects. BPR has worked closely with Middlesex University to deliver projects during term time when necessary and has understood the funding structures and Capital Receipts, achieved through the sale of community based assets needed to fund the projects.

The new campus now includes a new learning resource centre, chemical laboratories, lecture halls, soft landscaping and a larger student centre. The next phase of the development is currently in planning and will be home to the school of Arts and Education which will contain adaptable studios for fine art, photography, TV production and a central atrium for exhibitions.

In particular, the renovation of the 1930’s Quadrangle building at the centre of the campus has had an unprecedented impact on how the building is now used. An external courtyard which was once used for crossing from one side of the building to another is now used as the main reception area, a meeting point for students, performance area, café and is also hired out by corporates. The success of this project was difficult to predict, as the space created could not easily be defined. It took inspired vision to believe that the investment would achieve results. The Quadrangle is now fully booked and recently won a best building design award.

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