Coventry University, College of the Arts & Society

By BDP

Client Coventry University

Awards RIBA West Midlands Award 2025 and RIBA West Midlands Building of the Year 2025 (sponsored by EH Smith)

The award winner tells us, "The project delivers a £43m transformation of the 1960s School of Art and Society, together with a new-build courtyard infill to link together adjacent buildings and provide a new heart for the faculty. Through meticulous assessment of the eclectic set of existing buildings, BDP developed a complete reorganisation that revitalised academic environments and fostered interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.

By retaining nearly 80% of the existing facilities and strategically positioning the new-build element as a courtyard infill, the team seamlessly integrated disparate departments into a cohesive whole. This innovative approach enriched academic exchanges and served as a catalyst for community engagement, promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration, and providing the College with a new front door and shop window, a vibrant nexus for civic interaction. The transformation involves repurposing existing spaces to provide active and collaborative teaching, an overhaul and expansion of specialist workshops, and studio spaces and new high-tech immersive and media spaces."

Extract from the RIBA Awards Jury citation, "One simple move can reap many benefits. Infilling a courtyard between three 1960s Brutalist buildings with a new social space for the College of the Arts and Society has knitted the formerly disparate existing buildings together and connected the College to the city. This new ‘heart’ embodies four key ideas that drive the transformation: integrate / collaborate / connect / showcase.

A ‘less is more’ light-touch refurbishment provides what is necessary for the rooms to function well – acoustics, artificial and natural light, power, and most importantly generosity of space. Every space is neat, tidy, well-organised and functional, and the architecture is refreshingly direct."

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

Contractor McLaughlin & Harvey Construction

Executive architects for stage 5&6 Lewis & Hickey Ltd

Project management RPS

Principal designer and CDM coordinator KoK-surveyors

Gross internal area 17,605m²