AHR has secured planning permission to develop a new multimillion pound Engineering building at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).

South Gloucestershire Council approved the plans for a 8,500sqm building to be built at the University's main Frenchay Campus.

The new building will accommodate up to 1,600 people and has been designed to BREEAM Excellent standard.

Gary Overton, AHR director, said: "We are delighted to have received planning permission for this exciting project at UWE Bristol. The building's expansive use of natural light, combining circulation with social learning spaces will promote openness and encourage an inclusive educational experience for a diverse range of student engineers. We are looking forward to delivering upon the University's vision for 21st century, problem-based engineering."

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AHR and engineers Hydrock have collaborated to create a low energy, naturally ventilated building which provides long-term flexibility for the University.

A key challenge was to accommodate the large number of workshops requiring ground floor access. AHR overcame this by stepping the floors back around a central atrium, which provides natural ventilation and consistent north light, delivered through a vast 1,000sqm saw tooth roof supported on a glulam timber structure.

The central project spaces follow a vertical hierarchy, from heavy workshops and 'making' space on the ground floor, up to laboratories and 'design' space, and culminating in individual 'touchdown' space for quiet study at the top of the atrium.

AHR has worked on several projects across the University's Frenchay Campus, Glenside Campus and Bower Ashton Campus.

(CM/MH)