Learning and Teaching Hub Vision

VISIONLearning and Teaching Hub

FLEXIBLE LEARNING

INTERACTIVE TEACHING

SUSTAINABILITY

CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

STUDENT VIBE

• The Learning and Teaching Hub will play a vital role in supplementing the University’s current learning spaces.

• Currently the University Library provides the majority of spaces however it has been at capacity for some time. The adjacent Reading Room building also provides learning spaces but these are very individual based and do not allow for a collaborative style of learning.

• The lack of group learning opportunities is exacerbated by the fact that both buildings are remote to the University’s primary teaching spaces. The Learning and Teaching Hub, with its own high capacity teaching spaces and co-location with the Boyd Orr building, will provide an ideal location to encourage collaborative learning as well as accommodating reflective study spaces.

• The University has conducted extensive research and consultation to identify the preferred quantity, size and configuration of teaching spaces for the Learning and Teaching Hub to support the timetable now and for the future. It is proposed that the Hub will provide over 1800 teaching spaces in a variety of flexible environments ranging from a 500 seat lecture theatre to 10 seat seminar rooms.

• All teaching spaces will be designed to reflect current and future developments in pedagogy with greater emphasis placed on interactive teaching styles.

• State-of-the-art facilities in the Hub will enhance the student experience and reputation for teaching excellence. The facilities will meet the expectations of current and future students, in an ever competing global educational marketplace.

• The University of Glasgow has a tradition of excellence in energy awareness and seeks to minimise its environmental impact as much as possible.

• The new Learning and Teaching Hub in addition to the refurbishment of the adjacent Boyd Orr building will build on these principles. The project is designed and delivered within the framework of the University’s existing policies of carbon reduction, waste minimisation and sustainable travel planning.

• The Gilmorehill Campus Development Framework, approved by Glasgow City Council in 2014, identified the relationship of Byres Road, University Avenue and University Place as an opportunity to mark the approach and gateway at the western edge of the campus.

• The site currently occupied by the Mathematics building, and adjacent car park, was noted for its development potential to provide this urban gateway and enhance pedestrian movements across the existing campus.

• The new Learning and Teaching Hub will embody the University’s commitment to delivering an excellent student experience. The University attracts students from all over the world and the Hub will be a space which reflects their lifestyle, making them feel welcome and valued.

• It will be a place that students want to occupy and adapt to their own requirements, opening up opportunity for creative learning and allow students to meet friends and family in a ‘public friendly’ environment.

• It will support a motivated, vibrant and diverse community of learners and teachers to evolve efficient and effective approaches to study and pedagogy by facilitating innovation in teaching and supporting student development through group and individual study.

As part of the University’s commitment to being a world-class, world-changing university, the need for a Learning and Teaching Hub has been identified. This is due to a significant sustained growth in student numbers over the past decade and also the University’s desire to maintain a high level of student experience. The Learning and Teaching Hub will be pivotal in the connectivity between the Gilmorehill campus, the western expansion and the wider West End. The ‘Gateway’ building will become the focal point for student activity, with a permeable and engaging ground floor available to all.

The University is now bringing forward detailed proposals for the Learning and Teaching Hub and a Proposal of Application Notice was submitted to Glasgow City Council on 12 January 2016. This formally signalled the University’s intent to submit a planning application and commenced the statutory pre application consultation period associated with the proposals. Subject to this consultation exercise it is proposed to submit a full planning application in Spring 2016. The project team will take into account comments made during this consultation as the proposals are developed further and a report on this consultation exercise which will be submitted to Glasgow City Council in support of the planning application.

The University of Glasgow Charity number SC004401

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CONTEXTLearning and Teaching Hub

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The proposed site for the Learning and Teaching Hub occupies the site of the existing Mathematics Building together with the existing carpark on University Avenue adjacent to the Boyd Orr Tower, and will become a key focal point within the campus for student activity.

The Learning and Teaching Hub proposals are pivotal in the connectivity between Gilmorehill and the emerging Western Campus and offers the potential to be a true “Gateway” building. The proposals are consistent with the spirit of the Campus Development Framework.

MASSING SCALE AND CHARACTER

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The local transport network serving the west end of Glasgow and the Gilmorehill campus caters for all modes of travel as illustrated in Figure 2.

Walking and Cycling:The pedestrian and cycle network within the west end of Glasgow comprises footways on all main and residential roads; crossing facilities at key junctions and on key desire lines; and on and off road cycle routes. The pedestrian routes offer direct access to subway stations, bus service provision and the main transport hubs such as Partick Interchange.

Public Transport:In addition to Partick Interchange, the campus is served by three subway stations; Hillhead to the west on Byres Road, Kelvinbridge to the north east on South Woodside Road and Kelvinhall to the south west on Dumbarton Road. All three stations are within an easy walk of the campus. Byres Road, Great Western Road and Dumbarton Road also operate as main bus corridors offering high frequency bus services.

Vehicular Traffic:The key vehicle routes within the area include Great Western Road, Dumbarton Road and Byres Road. As well as main bus corridors, Great Western Road and Dumbarton Road carry high volumes of traffic between Glasgow city centre and the west of the city and beyond. Connecting the campus with these key routes are Byres Road, University Avenue and Kelvin Way.

TRANSPORT AND MOVEMENT

• The architecture responds to the scale and articulation of the Conservation Area and the landmark location.

• Generally, buildings within the campus range up to 4 - 5 storeys in height (e.g. University Gardens and Hillhead Street). Key buildings beyond 5 storeys in height are visible from different locations on campus as well as from surrounding areas. The topography of Gilmorehill further accentuates the scale of these buildings. The Campus Development Framework vision suggested that the site be redeveloped for a 4-5 storey building.

• Contrasting building mass and scale is a defining aspect of the campus character. Beginning with the iconic Gilbert Scott tower, the theme of contrasting scale is extended across the campus, seen in the Library and Boyd Orr buildings which sit adjacent to and within lower rise development. The acquisition of the Western Infirmary site adds to this theme. These buildings provoke a number of differing responses, but in townscape terms provide defining visual landmarks seen from both within the campus, far beyond and on key approach routes.

• The site is immediately surrounded by a number of different types of building dating from various eras such as the 1 Boyd Orr (1972), 2 Wolfson Medical School (2004), 3 Queen Margaret Union building (1968), and 4 Hetherington House (1880’s grade B listed). See Figure 3.

SITE

• The site location at the junction of University Avenue and University Place is a critical node of pedestrian movement in all directions. With the development of the campus into the site of the former Western Infirmary, this area will become strategic at the heart of the campus and provide a unique opportunity to create a major public space where pedestrians are prioritised.

• A clear hierarchy and relationship should be established between this new public space and the key buildings associated with them. See Figure 1.

SITE PHOTOS

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APPROACH AND VIEWS

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• The University Avenue / Byres Road junction forms a natural gap along the built edge of Byres Road and the main pedestrian approach from the west end.

• Clear views to the Boyd Orr and Wolfson buildings on this approach form the western gateway to the campus.

Eastern Approach - V2

• Travelling down University Avenue from the Gilbert Scott Building will focus on the new public space in front of the Wolfson Medical School with lateral views to Hetherington House and University Gardens.

Southern Approach - V4

• As a major new public space within the campus at the focal point of all pedestrian routes linking Gilmorehill with the western expansion of the campus, the approach from the south via University Place will open up into a new public space with the Wolfson and Learning and Teaching Hub containing and framing the views.

Northern Approach - V3

• Approaching from the north, the Boyd Orr building forms a visual marker with Lilybank Gardens terrace framing the northern approach from Great George Street.

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CONCEPTLearning and Teaching Hub

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The concept design is a response to challenges presented by the University’s global position as a centre for teaching excellence and the detailed site analysis, including the pedestrian flows across and around campus, the relationship of the site to existing topography and surrounding buildings. The setting of the building within the public realm is critical to creating a strong sense of place, and this will be developed in conjunction with the Architectural Design Guidance as set out by the Masterplan.

It should be a flexible, adaptable and dynamic space that supports the University Strategic Plan “Glasgow 2020 – A Global Vision”. A building of its time yet capable of responding to future needs whilst remaining sympathetic to the scale and articulation of its immediate neighbourhood.

The removal of the Mathematics Building opens up the site to be a central node within the overall pedestrian circulation network of the campus.

Large occupancy interactive teaching spaces are stacked within a “Teaching Nest” towards the University Gardens side of the building.

This “Teaching Nest” is raised to allow the ground floor to become a large double height permeable social space with flexible learning zones with direct connections to the external public space.

An internal atrium that brings natural daylight deep into the building, allows for clear central vertical circulation between floors. A further three vertical cores make for easy circulation around the building.

The project also includes the refurbishment and over-cladding of the Boyd Orr tower with horizontal links between the two buildings on three levels through a 4 storey winter garden that enhances the pedestrian link from University Gardens to University Avenue.

Flexible Learning Areas are wrapped around the nest and address University Avenue and the new public space.

These Flexible Learning Areas change on each level throughout the building, with dedicated study floors designed to allow for social, interactive and reflective study experiences.

An active and transparent frontage to University Avenue incorporates solar control screens to maintain permeability and a strong internal / external relationship.

The new building becomes a strong visual backdrop to the new public space adjacent to the Wolfson Medical School, as identified within the masterplan.

WINTER GARDEN SECTION

LONGITUDINAL SECTION

CONCEPT DIAGRAM 01 CONCEPT DIAGRAM 02 CONCEPT DIAGRAM 03

CONCEPT DIAGRAM 04 CONCEPT DIAGRAM 05 CONCEPT DIAGRAM 06

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LAYOUTLearning and Teaching Hub

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Developing the outline concept, the proposed building layout has been designed to suit the existing topography and pedestrian desire lines to optimise circulation into and throughout the building. The relationship between external and internal space is crucial to maintain a sense of permeability and openness, particularly at ground level, to allow views both into and out of the building to University Avenue, and University Gardens. Due to the high volume of students moving through the building, visual clarity of the main elements of the building will assist with way-finding and access.

LEVEL 00 & LEVEL 01

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Entrance points to the ground floor levels of the Learning and Teaching Hub are positioned to optimise circulation through and within the building. Direct access through to the Boyd Orr building will be provided and escalators, lifts and stairs allow swift movement of students to the upper levels.

Full height atria, including a winter gardens between the Boyd Orr building and the upper levels of the Hub will provide a welcoming environment for students, staff and the public. The main café area will sit underneath the ‘teaching nest’ with informal seating terraces and galleries situated throughout the ground floor providing opportunities for informal and interactive learning. Extensive use of full height glazing will increase the feeling of permeability at street level.

LEVEL 02

This is a high occupancy floor with the main 500 seat Interactive Teaching Space located at the base of the ‘teaching nest’. This double height auditorium will have a shallow raked floor with two rows of fixed tables per step and have the facility to be sub-divisible into two by means of a vertically descending acoustic partition.

Further teaching spaces are located in the rooms overlooking the landscaped area to the rear of the Boyd Orr as well as the southwest corner which cantilevers over the main entrance below.

The main level 02 learning zone is located overlooking University Avenue which will benefit from a glazed façade providing a visual connection with the rest of the campus. A bridge link across the winter gardens atrium accesses level 04 of the Boyd Orr building.

The double height Interactive Teaching Space has presented the opportunity for Level 03 to be labelled ‘The Quiet Zone’. There are no significant teaching spaces accessed at this level therefore the majority of the floor space has been allocated to learning space. The escalators bypass this level to reduce disruption caused by those accessing the teaching spaces on the upper levels. Noise transfer from other floors will be further mitigated by screening off the main central atrium.

The learning zone overlooking University Avenue will be utilised for reflective study in particular; while areas which are open to the atria provide opportunities for more collaborative learning.

An additional teaching space is stacked within the solid element which forms the southwest corner and cantilevers over the main entrance.

LEVEL 04

This is another high occupancy floor with two Interactive Teaching Spaces located in the ‘teaching nest’. For flexibility, both auditoria are flat-floor allowing for a variety of teaching configurations. Escalators will facilitate swift movement of students to and from this level.

Further teaching spaces are located in the rooms overlooking the landscaped area to the rear of the Boyd Orr as well as the southwest corner which cantilevers over the main entrance.

The main level 04 learning zone is located overlooking University Avenue which will benefit from a glazed façade providing a visual connection with the rest of the campus. A bridge link across the winter gardens atrium accesses level 06 of the Boyd Orr building.

LEVEL 05

The top level in the Learning and Teaching Hub accommodates two further Interactive Teaching Spaces located in the ‘teaching nest’. For flexibility, both auditoria are flat-floor allowing for a variety of teaching configurations. Escalators will facilitate swift movement of students to and from this level.

Further teaching spaces are located in the rooms overlooking the landscaped area to the rear of the Boyd Orr as well as the southwest corner which cantilevers over the main entrance.

Although the area dedicated for learning space is reduced on Level 05, an external roof terrace is provided which overlooks University Avenue and the wider campus and city to the south. This will be partially covered and link with an internal cafe space.

SHORT SECTION

- Lecture Space

- TEAL Space

- Seminar Space

- Roof Terrace

- Breakout Space

- Learning Space

FLEXIBLE LEARNING AREAS CONNECTED WITH EXTERNAL PUBLIC SPACE AT GROUND FLOOR


MATERIALSLearning and Teaching Hub

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Like much of the West End, Gilmorehill is characterised by the use of buff sandstone, however there does not seem to be any distinct material zoning in and around the campus. Buildings of different external materiality, mass and scale exist immediately adjacent to one another.

We propose that a warm palette of tactile materials, with tones and hues responding to the immediate architectural context, is an appropriate response, and these would be selected in accordance with the Architectural Design Guidance as set out by the Masterplan.

UNIVERSITY GARDENS ELEVATION

UNIVERSITY AVENUE ELEVATION

TENLEY LIBRARY, WASHINGTON, US UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH, UK MORA RESIDENCE, ROMANIAA WINTER GARDEN LINKS THE LEARNING & TEACHING HUB TO BOYD ORR

THE RAISED “TEACHING NEST” ALLOWS THE GROUND FLOOR TO BECOME A LARGE DOUBLE HEIGHT PERMEABLE SOCIAL SPACE

INTERNAL VIEWS

PRECEDENTS

NIGHT TIME VIEW OF LEARNING AND TEACHING HUB

Documents

Learning and Teaching Hub Vision