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NEWS HERITAGE & HISTORIC
University of Cambridge unveils BDP plans to restore Stirling building
The University of Cambridge, working with BDP, has announced ambitious plans to restore the Grade II* listed History Faculty Building by James Stirling, which is also the home of the Seeley Library. This landmark project will restore and revitalise one of the iconic ‘Red Trilogy’ – the triumvirate of signifi cant university buildings designed in the 1960s by the prominent post-war architect James Stirling. It presents a “once in a generation opportunity to provide a new range of enhanced learning and working environments at the heart of the Sidgwick site,” said BDP, while improving the building’s accessibility, safety and comfort. The comprehensive refurbishment will “safeguard the use and enjoyment of the building; repairing and upgrading the fabric and replacing services to improve thermal comfort, while introducing a range of carbon saving and climate resilient measures,” commented the architects. Professor Tim Harper, head of the school of the humanities and social sciences, said: “The project is true to James Stirling’s vision in that it looks to the future. It will enable all those who use the building to work together in new and exciting ways.” The project, said BDP, has followed a “meticulous conservation-led approach
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that embraces the value, signifi cance and distinctive character of the building while recognising the need for change to meet contemporary requirements.” After considering the multiple adaptations to the building, “careful judgements have been made about the recovery and reinstatement of materials and details.” In conjunction with an approach to new and repaired fabric, this project will “breathe new life into the building, making its architectural value more tangible,” said BDP. A key driver for the project is to meet equality, diversity and inclusion goals. The project will signifi cantly improve step-free access throughout the building, including external terraces, to ensure “equitable entry and circulation for all users.” Internal treatments will also provide a more comfortable range of environments, recognising the needs of a broader spectrum of people.
Environmental sustainability is also a major focus, with innovative technologies and materials being employed to enhance the building’s performance. Fabric-fi rst and “passive upgrades,” in conjunction with renewable energy sources and effi cient systems and controls, will reduce energy consumption. The project targets BREEAM Excellent certifi cation and a “zero-gas” approach will be employed to help the university reach its own “absolute zero”
carbon targets. Incorporation of the WELL Standard will help the project “ensure wellbeing of occupants is addressed from the outset.” A pre-refurbishment audit has been undertaken in order to identify potential reuse or recycle opportunities and minimise waste.
The proposals also include extending the building, with two new pavilions proposed to provide additional library and reading spaces while supporting improved accessibility. These new elements “clearly express their function and respond to the original building scale, form and materials; deployed in a simple, abstract way to differentiate them,” said BDP. Arup is delivering heritage, civil, structural, facade engineering and access services on the project to provide the technical and functional facilities befi tting the building and has been engaged since the initial feasibility study in 2021. The landscape around the building will see improvements, aiming to enhance biodiversity and create “more convivial and inviting outdoor spaces as part of the wider heritage setting.”
Construction is due to start in 2025, subject to university approvals, including a formal ‘Grace’ to the university’s Regent House, as well as planning and listed building consent approvals from Cambridge City Council.
ADF JULY/AUGUST 2024
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