The New Student Hub at Riddel Hall by TODD Architects by

Building Materials

20106493_1 — 2024-08-24 07:04:46 UTC

The external palette of materials is consciously restrained, combining red clay brick, bronze framed aluminium, floor to ceiling glazed screens and red cast stone, the latter used principally to delineate entrance colonnades, at the upper and lower entrances.

Internally within circulation spaces, exposed concrete soffits with floating ceiling rafts, board marked concrete walls, timber wall sheeting and terrazzo tiled floors, combine to create a calm, robust, and understated aesthetic.

Whos is the building for?

20106493_1 — 2024-08-24 07:06:30 UTC

The new facilities have been developed to accommodate the accelerated growth of Queen's Business School. The new building hosts academic researchers, postgraduate taught students and postgraduate research students. The social spaces are open to all staff and students - the building will be a vibrant hub for socialising, working, studying, accessing support, and developing careers and ideas.

A sustainable building

20106493_1 — 2024-08-24 07:08:38 UTC

Geothermal heating powers the building, making it a pioneering project in Northern Ireland for this green energy source.

Photovoltaic panels on top of the building generate electricity.

Solar panels on the roof generate all hot water within the bathrooms and kitchen areas.

Staff have access to bike parking, showers, and lockers to encourage sustainable modes of active travel to work.

Electric car charging points are available.

Friendly to their surroundings

20106493_1 — 2024-08-24 07:09:21 UTC

To ensure minimum disturbance to local wildlife, LED light fittings have been used both internally and externally with appropriate lux levels and blinds on windows.

We wanted minimal removal of existing trees, and relocated 7 trees to the Malone Road playing fields site.

A wildflower meadow finishes the lower roof, to encourage biodiversity.

We incorporated 'swift boxes' and a swift calling system, to help swifts seek a safe space in the summer months.

Construction

20106493_1 — 2024-08-24 07:11:19 UTC

The building was designed by TODD Archtiects and construction commenced on-site in September 2020 and was then completeed in May 2023

Geothermal Heating

20106493_1 — 2024-08-24 07:11:48 UTC

Measures adopted include a major geothermal heat system, with an adjoining field of piles driven to a depth of 125m to extract heat from the sandstone sub-strate and provide low level constant heat to the building, via an underfloor heating system.

This will result from a heat generation perspective, in a 10% reduction in lift cycle costs compared to a gas boiler installation and over 60% reduction in carbon emissions.

Design

20106493_1 — 2024-08-24 07:14:23 UTC

The plan diagram emerged from an analysis of how people would move through the building, with a route established linking the main entrance on the lower ground floor to a secondary entrance at the lawn level above for staff and students.

The architectural response carefully knits the building into its sensitive landscaped setting and seeks to ensure a connectivity for its users with the surrounding mature woodland.

Comparison to MST and PFC, Queen’s University Belfast by TODD Architects

20106493_1 — 2024-08-24 07:25:19 UTC

I find that this building is very relatable to the new student hub as riddel hall in regards to design, and layout. The exterior and interior are very similar compared to the new student hub as the exterior has a mixed facade of traditional and modern architecture with its Red clay bricks,glazed screens and bronze anodised panels. The interior is very modern with timber and concrete walls. Also, in relatio to the new student hub, They have been sensitively composed to respond to the historic context, with broad brick reveals and soffits, combined with extended curtain wall capping pieces, to provide a depth and layering to the elevations, consciously echoing the Victorian detailing of neighbouring listed buildings.

Inspiration to the design

20106493_1 — 2024-08-24 07:33:59 UTC

In the area that the new student hub was built, it is known as a very wealthy area with the construction of Queens University Business school being one of the first Russel Group institutes and it’s only bona fide ‘red brick’: Recieving its character in 1845. With the constant trend that TODD Architects seem to follow through their design being to fit into its surrounding, It only made sense for them to make a red brick facade for the building mixing it with the modern design for the interior, which gives us both hints of present and past in this building.

Refernces

20106493_1 — 2024-08-24 09:37:28 UTC

1) TODD Architect - QBS

2) Queens Universit Belfast Site

3) TODD Architects - MST and PFC

4)Mix Interiors - Red Brick Revelation