🟢Background:

📍Location: Riddel Hall is located in the Queen's Quarter of Belfast, a vibrant area known for its rich history and cultural significance.

•Client: The project was commissioned by Queen's University Belfast, a prestigious institution renowned for its academic excellence and research contributions.

•Architectural Firm: TODD Architects, founded in 1976, is an award-winning architectural practice based in Belfast, with a reputation for innovative and sustainable design solutions.

📜Historical Context:

•Riddel Hall: Originally built in 1854, Riddel Hall has a rich history as a former linen warehouse before being acquired by Queen's University Belfast in the 1950s. Over the years, it has been repurposed for various educational and administrative functions.

•Belfast's Urban Development: The development of the Student Hub reflects Belfast's ongoing urban regeneration efforts, particularly in the Queen's Quarter, which has seen significant investment in recent years to enhance its cultural, educational, and economic vitality.

🔵Architectural Significance:

•Design Concept: The New Student Hub at Riddel Hall was conceived as a modern, multifunctional space that caters to the diverse needs of students. Its design seamlessly blends contemporary aesthetics with functional efficiency.

•Sustainable Features: TODD Architects are known for their commitment to sustainability. The building incorporates sustainable design elements such as energy-efficient systems, natural lighting, and materials with low environmental impact.

•Integration with Surroundings: The architectural design likely takes into account the historical context of Riddel Hall and it's surroundings, ensuring that the new building complements the existing architecture while also making a bold statement of its own.

•User-Centric Design: The layout and features of the Student Hub are tailored to enhance the student experience, fostering collaboration, creativity, and community engagement.

🟡Community Impact:

•Student Experience: The Student Hub serves as a central gathering place for students, offering a range of amenities such as study spaces, social areas, recreational facilities, and student support services.

•Cultural Hub: The building contributes to the cultural vibrancy of the Queen's Quarter, hosting events, exhibitions, and activities that enrich the student experience and engage the wider community.

•Educational Resource: The Hub also serve as a resource for the local community, offering access to educational programs, workshops, and public lectures.

By considering these aspects, we can appreciate the architectural, historical, and community significance of the New Student Hub at Riddel Hall by TODD Architects.

• Bibliography:

TODD Architects. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.toddarch.com/

Queen's University Belfast. (n.d.). About Queen's. Retrieved from https://www.qub.ac.uk/about/

Historic England. (n.d.). Riddel's Warehouse. Retrieved from https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1393942

Department for Communities. (2020). Belfast: Queen's Quarter. Retrieved from https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/publications/belfast-queens-quarter-masterplan

Student Hub Riddel Hall

The outward appearance of the Student Hub is minimalistic and modern, the main component is red brick and cast stone. This allows it to blend into the surrounding trees and mirrors its neighbouring building, the Riddel Hall.

All in all, the building has a pleasant exterior and the addition of the green roves add colour to the building and gives a pleasing image.

The Student Hub was made from analysing and predicting how the students would move around the building, which crated this free-flowing pathway which allows easy use of the building. The stairs even assist this with changing the circulation axis going from the entrance to the lawn level.

The Student Hub houses many features that both students and staff can avail of including educational and social. It accommodates what is needed and flows well which in turn creates a well-functioning building that suits its purpose.

Bridge Community Centre, Killyleagh

There’s a glazed strip going through the Community Centre that allows natural light to shine through the building. It illuminates the interior and shines on the colours inside and accentuates them which generates a brighter room. The building follows a traditional rural form with the main area with attaching smaller rooms.

While this building embodies a simple rural building that doesn't show for much, it could be argued that since it was made in 1999 and it stands for one simple thing, that it doesn’t need a complex exterior that would take away from its sole function of being a community hall.

The Community Centre is comprised of three different sized rooms; the main area is a hall and is confined by a reception, changing rooms and a smaller hall. This building is multi-functional, it accommodates meetings, gatherings, sports and other activities.

This building holds many functions that are well used by the community of Killyleagh and its neighbouring village, Shrigley. This shows that this building has served its purpose and still stands to do so even after 20+ years. It’s clearly a building that will stand it’s time for what its designed to do.

• Bibliography:

https://www.toddarch.com/projects/the-bridge-community-centre-killyleagh/

https://www.newrymournedown.org/bridge-community-centre-killyleagh

https://rsua.org.uk/inside-look-at-riddel-hall/

https://www.toddarch.com/projects/qub-management-school/

https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/queens-business-school/about/student-hub/#:~:text=A%20new%206%2C000%20square%20metre,enhanced%20social%20and%20educational%20experience.&text=Take%20a%20tour%20of%20the%20new%20Queen's%20Business%20School%20Student%20Hub.

• plan emerged from analysis how peopoe move through the building, linking the main entrance to the ground floor, connecting to the secondary entrance at lawn level

• main structure is triple height atrium with feature stair connecting to the reception to upper floor

• the architectural response integrates the building into the natural landscape, ensuring connectivity between its users and the woodland

• limited exterior materials: red clay brick, bronze-framed aluminium, floor to ceiling glazed screens & red cast stone for entrance colonnades

• the interior features exposed concrete soffits, floating ceiling rafts, board marked walls, timber wall sheeting & terrazzo tiled floors (calm, robust aesthetic)

• design initially aimed at being low energy & ecologically sensitive, achieves the BREEAM Excellent Standard.

• it has implemented a geothermal system, resulting in 10% reduction of lift cycle costs and 60% reduction of CO2

• Bibliography:

TODD Architects. (n.d.). Queen’s New Business School, Riddel Hall. [online] Available at: https://www.toddarch.com/projects/qub-management-

school/.

Likewise the The Bridge Community Centre, Killyleagh doesnt have any articles written about it so there is no evidence it has influenced any future designs despite being constructed nearly 30 years ago.

Bibliography

https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/todd-architects-completes-redbrick-business-school-for-queens-belfast

https://www.toddarch.com/projects/qub-mst-pfc/

https://www.toddarch.com/projects/the-bridge-community-centre-killyleagh/

The Bridge Community Centre in Killyleagh has a similar setting to Riddel Hall as it is surrounded by trees around the perimeter of the site. Both buildings share hints of modernism as functionality has clearly played a large roll in the design process. The approach that Todd Architects took was to create central spaces which connect smaller spaces together. A feature staircase is used in Riddel Hall to allows spaces to flow seamlessly. The community centre follows the same idea with the main hall in the centre branching off to smaller side rooms. Each building has clean straight lines and large windows to let natural light flood in, which shows more signs of modernism being used in the design.

• Bibliography:

https://www.toddarch.com/projects/the-bridge-community-centre-killyleagh/

https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/QueensGenderInitiative/QGIAnniversaryCelebrations/RiddelHallChronicles/

• Riddel Hall:

Riddel hall is located on the queen’s university campus in Belfast. The campus is located in Belfast city and the campus is 6000 meters squared surrounded by a mature woodland. How people would move through the building was taken into consideration in the design process a route linking the main entrance on the lower ground floor, with a secondary entrance at the lawn level above for staff and students was established. A triple height atrium is used to organise the multiple functions of the building allowing access from the main reception to study booths teaching spaces and accommodation.

• Bridge Community Centre:

The bridge community centre is located in a more rural area. Its located near The river Dibney. Due to its location on a flood plain the ground had to be raised to stop flooding. The spaces including wrapped secondary accommodation, including a minor hall, reception / exhibition area, and changing facilities. The space is broken down so it is less visually bulky and sits in well with its surroundings

The building Itself was inspired by Traditional country Barns so it fits well with its rural location.

Natural light is well utilised to give the building a light and airy feel

• Riddel Hall:

  
  

Riddel hall is located on the queen’s university campus in Belfast. The campus is located in Belfast city and the campus is 6000 meters squared surrounded by a mature woodland. How people would move through the building was taken into consideration in the design process a route linking the main entrance on the lower ground floor, with a secondary entrance at the lawn level above for staff and students was established. A triple height atrium is used to organise the multiple functions of the building allowing access from the main reception to study booths teaching spaces and accommodation.

• Bridge Community Centre:

  
  

The bridge community centre is located in a more rural area. Its located near The river Dibney. Due to its location on a flood plain the ground had to be raised to stop flooding. The spaces including wrapped secondary accommodation, including a minor hall, reception / exhibition area, and changing facilities. The space is broken down so it is less visually bulky and sits in well with its surroundings

The building Itself was inspired by Traditional country Barns so it fits well with its rural location.

Natural light is well utilised to give the building a light and airy feel

Here's how the building relates to some of these goals ↴

🟨Goal 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy:

The building may integrate renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines to generate clean energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to a more sustainable energy system.

🟠Goal 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure:

The design of the Student Hub may incorporate innovative construction techniques or materials that enhance sustainability and reduce environmental impact. This could include the use of recycled materials, energy-efficient systems, or smart building technologies.

🟧Goal 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities:

By creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly building, the Student Hub contributes to creating more sustainable urban environments. This can include considerations such as reducing carbon emissions, promoting green spaces, and improving air and water quality.

🟫Goal 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production:

The design and construction of the Student Hub may prioritize materials that are sustainably sourced, recycled, or locally sourced, reducing the environmental impact associated with resource extraction, manufacturing, and transportation.

🟩Goal 13 - Climate Action:

Through its sustainable design features, the Student Hub helps mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, and promoting resilience to climate impacts.

🟢Goal 15 - Life on Land:

Sustainable building practices can help protect and preserve terrestrial ecosystems by minimizing habitat destruction, reducing pollution, and conserving natural resources.

🟦Goal 17 - Partnerships for the Goals:

The development of the Student Hub likely involved collaboration between various stakeholders, including architects, engineers, builders, and community members. Such partnerships are essential for achieving sustainable development goals by leveraging collective expertise and resources.

These are just a few examples of how the design and construction of the New Student Hub at Riddel Hall by TODD Architects can contribute to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Each sustainable design strategy implemented in the building helps address multiple interconnected sustainability challenges and contributes to a more resilient and equitable future.

• Bibliography:

THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development. (n.d.). https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Similarities:

• Both the new student hub and the bridge community centre are in privatised areas surrounded by trees and nature, which is giving the impression of being in a rural

  setting, although they are both in urban environments.

  
  

• These two buildings have open spaces internally, which allows them to distribute light equally throughout the building.

  
  

Differences:

• There are many differences between these two buildings, such as the size of each building, as the Bridge Community building is a much smaller size than the Queens Business School building.

  
  

• The materials used in these buildings are very different as well from the Queens Business School, which uses a lot of warmer materials such as red clay and timber wall sheeting, which gives a comforting and welcoming feeling as the materials used in the bridge community centre are a lot brighter and is designed to use sunlight for their full advantage.

It has been clear that TODD Architecture has developed its design from a simpler and more structural building to one with more texture and detail.

➟Circular Architecture Principles:

- Emphasizing adaptive reuse of existing structures or materials to minimise waste.

- Incorporating design for disassembly, enabling easy separation and recycling of components at the end of the building's life cycle.

- Implementing strategies for closed-loop systems, such as rainwater harvesting and onsite energy generation.

⇨Material Considerations:

- Selection of eco-friendly, recycled, or locally sourced materials to reduce carbon footprint and support local economies.

- Prioritizing durable materials with low maintenance requirements to extend the building's lifespan.

- Integrating modular construction techniques to facilitate future modifications or expansions with minimal disruption.

➺Environmental Considerations:

- Designing for energy efficiency through passive design strategies like orientation, natural ventilation, and daylighting to reduce reliance on mechanical systems.

- Incorporating renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or wind turbines to generate onsite power.

- Implementing green infrastructure like green roofs or permeable paving to manage storm-water runoff and enhance biodiversity.

• Bibliography:

TODD Architects. Retrieved from https://www.toddarch.com/projects/qub-management-school/

Circular Economy in Architecture: Principles and Practices by Catherine De Wolf.

Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery by Charles J. Kibert.

Circular Design Guide for the Building Sector by Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Sustainable Materials, Processes, and Production by Adisa Azapagic and Slobodan Perdan.