University of Bristol Senate House

by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Client University of Bristol

Awards RIBA South West Award 2023

University of Bristol Senate House670Rebecca NoakesWEBIMAGE2jpg — University of Bristol Senate House © Rebecca Noakes

Senate House is the imaginative reuse and reinvention of an existing 1960s administration building on the University of Bristol campus, creating a new student social and support hub.

The building’s existing U-shaped plan has been unified with a new double-height insertion that creates a spacious, welcoming main entrance and internal ‘courtyard’. A striking coffered ceiling has been rigorously detailed, elevating the main atrium space and creating a clear focal point that gives character and identity to the building’s new programme. The ceiling funnels natural light into the space whilst also neatly concealing mechanical services and providing acoustic sound attenuation. Surrounding the ‘central’ courtyard are the Student Union’s socialising spaces and canteen which have been flexibly designed so that they can either be closed off or opened up to the atrium space.

Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal.

Contractor Kier Construction

Structural Engineer Curtins

Services Engineer Priddy Engineering

Project Management JLL

MEP Atkins

Acoustic Engineer Atkins

Fire Consultant Atkins

Catering Consultant Hepburn

Wayfinding Consultant Holmes Wood

Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant Aecom

Sustainability SCS Partnership