University of Warwick selects Royal Institute of British Architects competition winner Feilden Clegg Bradley to design its new Faculty of Arts

COVENTRY, 21-Feb-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — Following a design competition run by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) the University of Warwick has selected Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCB) to design a new multi-million pound purpose-built building for the Faculty of Arts.

Commenting on the announcement Professor Simon Gilson, Chair of the Arts Faculty, said:

“The competition has been immensely valuable in generating a wealth of ideas for a building that will serve students, staff and the public over the coming decades. The successful architects, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCB) will be helping us move into the exciting next phase of the development as we look to create a building that is open, inviting and flexible, allows collaboration, creativity and innovation to flourish, and acts as a hub both for public engagement in the humanities and for nurturing cultural value.

Andy Theobald, Partner at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCB), said:

“Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios are delighted to have been selected to lead the design team for this exciting new Faculty of Arts building at The University of Warwick. This will be a very significant new building for the campus and one that will embody the cultural values of both the University and the Faculty. We are very much looking forward to an exciting collaboration with the Faculty to develop our competition-winning proposals and together create a building for interaction, learning and research right across the Humanities.”

The Faculty of Arts at Warwick is one of the World’s top 50 Arts and Humanities Faculties. Its departments, currently housed in two separate buildings, will be united fostering new collaborations in a central campus location close to the Oculus and the Arts Centre.

The new building will contribute significantly to the enhancement of the Central Campus, providing an architecturally outstanding environment that will become a destination for Warwick’s global community of students, academics and visitors.

Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick said:

“This exciting project continues to raise the bar in the standards of the facilities we provide to support teaching and research on our campus, further enhancing the staff and student experience we seek to offer at Warwick. I’m extremely pleased that the new building, in close proximity to the Warwick Arts Centre, also further strengthens the University’s appeal as a cultural destination, creating space to engage with our local community through a range of opportunities including: language training, access to fantastic performance and exhibition zones, and other activities to support Coventry’s Cultural Strategy.”

The Faculty of Arts building once completed plans to attract the wider University and the public, by showcasing the teaching, research and impact work it carries out and providing a progressive range of zones for performances, exhibitions, conferences, and informal study.

The University of Warwick’s main campus is located on the south-west fringe of Coventry on the border with Warwickshire, just 30 minutes by train to Birmingham and one hour to London. The site for the new Faculty of Arts Development lies at the heart of the University of Warwick’s vibrant campus in a prominent location. It is close to key buildings including the Library, the Students’ Union, Social Sciences Building, Warwick Arts Centre and the recently completed Oculus Building.

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Notes to Editors:

RIBA Competitions Please ensure RIBA Competitions is credited when mentioning the above competition. RIBA Competitions delivers choice, inspiration and value to clients through expertly run competitive selection processes. The dedicated RIBA Competitions team can help you explore the full potential of your project, for further information visit www.architecture.com/competitions or email RIBA.Competitions@riba.org

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment.

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The other shortlisted teams (listed in alphabetical order) were:-