Baddiley-Clark Building

This facility provides high-specification laboratories with an innovative terracing arrangement for the write-up areas, promoting integration among all the research staff. It was surrounded by various university estate buildings including a Grade II listed building which was integrated and structurally upgraded as part of the scheme.

The cantilevered building form reduces the structural load of the surrounding listed buildings but also allows for unique lighting at the entrance. The lighting design for the entrance uses in ground uplighters, creating a safe and well-lit solution. This is due to the principle that the eye sees the brightness of the soffit as a way of determining the brightness of the space. The lighting design from the entrance through the reception, café, circulation and labs focuses on clarity and linearity, which seamlessly immerses itself into the architecture and building fabric.

Project lead Duncan Cox commented, “Being able to design an efficient servicing strategy was key for our design and maximising the possibilities for natural ventilation at the same time as delivering laboratory mechanically ventilated spaces where required to maintain the environmental and cleanliness standards was a vital balance.”