Monday 12 May 2014

Alexi Marmot writes about the influence of architecture on the student experience

An important new book on The Physical University: Contours of space and place in higher education that has just been published by Routledge, edited by Paul Temple. AMA director Alexi Marmot, professor at UCL's Bartlett, has written a key chapter on how the student experience and university effectiveness are influenced by design, architecture and FM.

Details about the book are available here.



Thursday 8 May 2014

Bath Spa University ‘Commons’ is first class

Bath Spa University, BSU, has just opened its highly anticipated new ‘Commons’ building at its Newton Park Campus, Bath. This exciting and innovative new teaching facility, the main hub on campus, will transform the student learning experience and enhance the way staff work, with its professionally conceived design, operations and furnishings.

AMA Alexi Marmot Associates was awarded the interior fit-out for the new build, drawing on our strength and wide experience in higher education projects. We took just 15 months from start to finish, including wide consultation, design, specification, tendering and fit-out.

The building is Bath Spa University’s largest, with 80,000 square feet over three floors, providing additional teaching and meeting spaces, staff work bases and major specialist digital studio facilities.  An outdoor amphitheatre and landscaped areas complete the special landscaped setting.

The Commons offers highly innovative, naturally ventilated spaces with technologically and integrated design elements and furniture.  Lecture and training rooms enjoy a range of furniture set-ups to encourage individual and group work.  The largely open plan ground floor supports the library and student services with bookable, open and quiet work areas, a lively cafĂ© and flexible spaces for hosting large events. A central media wall - one of the largest in the UK - provides a dramatic information platform for the University within the dramatic atrium.

Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University, reports that colleagues ‘are thrilled with how it looks. We are delighted with the furnishings. Someone said it looked like a first class airline lounge.’ The official VIP opening will be in June.


BSU Commons Building (Photos: AMA)



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