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UWE Bower Ashton Campus, Bristol

University of the West of England Education Development, Bristol, UK – design by Austin-Smith:Lord Architects

20 May 2016

University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol Bower Ashton Campus Redevelopment

Austin-Smith:Lord consolidates success in Bristol with UWE Design

Design: Austin-Smith:Lord, Architects

Architects, Austin-Smith:Lord have won a competitive tender to deliver architectural, interior design, landscape design and engineering services to the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol as it begins a major redevelopment of its Bower Ashton Campus.

The architecture practice, which has recently opened a new Bristol architects studio, will design a new centre for digital media programmes including film, animation and photography. The three storey building forms the first phase of a masterplan for the redevelopment of the campus, which will include a second arts building, central landscaped square and the refurbishment of existing space.

UWE’s Bower Ashton Studios is situated in close proximity to Bristol’s Ashton Court Estate which comprises a grade 1 listed mansion, listed landscape grounds and deer park and the new building is situated in a prominent position on the approach to the Estate.

Commenting on the challenge, Tim Young, Director at Austin-Smith:Lord said: “In collaboration with the client and the contractor, Willmott Dixon, we worked hard to ensure that the design enhanced the conservation area setting, whilst providing a modern facility which would meet the needs of the University. Our solution was a design aesthetic which draws on the typology of agricultural barns and local materials.“

The new building provides 2400m2 floorspace, incorporating a series of workshop and studio spaces, including a TV production studio. A large student hub zone space is located at first floor, with a full height panoramic window giving views out across the adjacent deer park. This level also provides a series of computer labs and stop-motion animation studios.

The quieter top floor accommodates a series of specialist sound recording spaces as well as staff offices, editing suites and further computer labs.

The building has been designed to achieve BREEAM Very Good rating.

Since being appointed to work on this project, Austin-Smith:Lord has subsequently been appointed to refurbish the Arnolfini building in Bristol.

Alex Gilkison, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries and Education says, “The new studio facilities will support the Faculty’s ambition to develop a modern, digitally-enabled studio campus close to the heart of Bristol’s creative and digital economy.

“The Faculty has partnerships with BBC, Watershed, Encounters and Wildscreen Festivals, Aardman Animation, M Shed, Spike Island and Arnolfini. These links are central to the Faculty’s practice-oriented strategy where students learn in industry relevant settings and with industry partners.”

UWE Bower Ashton Campus Buildings Bristol images / information received from Austin-Smith:Lord

Austin-Smith:Lord Architects

Phone: 0117 965 6261

Location: Kennel Lodge Rd, Bower Ashton, Bristol BS3 2JT, United Kingdom

Website: UWE Bower Ashton Campus