2016 Sussex Heritage Trust Awards - HKS Winner

winner UTC@harbourside

2016 S U S S E X P U B L I C & C O M M UN I T Y H E R I TA G E TRUST AWARDS AWA R D C AT E G O R Y

Image: Existing carpenters workshop

BRIEF The client brief was to design a new University Technical College (UTC) for up to 600, 14-19 year olds and is to be located within the historic setting of two existing listed buildings on the Railway Quays site in the heart of Newhaven, East Sussex.

The new facility called UTC@ harbourside will develop engineers for the future who will have specialist skills and the environmental awareness needed to support the increasing role of renewable and marine technologies such as wind farms and tidal energy generators.

Image: New workshop within marine workshop

The UTC is sponsored by the Aldridge Foundation, the University of Brighton, Veolia and Lewis District Council.

Industry partners include a diverse range of companies including Veolia and local Newhaven businesses.

The funded area was for approximately 4,870sqm of teaching accommodation and had to be housed within 2 existing Listed buildings along with a new build element, located on the bank of the River Ouse. The largest building was previously a Marine Workshop built in C. 1882 and contained 2 large gantry cranes. The Carpenter’s Workshop sits to the south of the Marine Workshop and was built c.1885.

Both buildings historically serviced the Brighton and South Coast Railway cross channel packet ships.

There were many site and planning constraints which the proposal had to address. The main one being to create new teaching / admin spaces over 3 new floors, without compromising the structural and visual integrity of the Listed facades by creating new openings.

Image: New atrium reception below old gantry crane

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To avoid any potential damage, the new building was designed as retained facades. The new inner skin was constructed from high performing, Structurally Insulated Panel (SIPS) spanning between a concrete frame and floor slab “skeleton” built within the footprint of the existing buildings.

A flat-panel rain screen cladding system was used to the new build elements of the UTC. This was a dark-coloured panel to provide a clear ‘low key’ contrast to the existing brickwork below in order to clearly highlight the history of the site and its development. The junctions between this cladding panel and the existing brickwork is expressed with a shadow gap formed in metal flashing to ensure a crisp and considered junction between all new and existing elements.

Whilst the Quays site was once at the heart of Newhaven’s maritime industry, following Newhaven’s

journey from maritime prosperity to post-industrial decline, the existing buildings that occupy it had fallen into disuse and dilapidation.

The new UTC@harbourside will act as a catalyst for the further economic and social regeneration of Newhaven, equipping the community with the skills and experience to take advantage of the opportunities presented by marine and environmental engineering within Newhaven and the wider District.

Working collaboratively with the Technical Advisors, Lewes District Council, Conservation and client team, a successful design and inclusive technical solution was sought over a 22 month Period (design to handover), which through rigorous testing of educational pedagogies and considerate design options realised a State of the art teaching facility that reinforces its connection between Newhaven’s maritime heritage and future.

Right: New second floor classroom within marine workshop

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SUSTAINABILITY The design proposals for the new UTC was to be housed within 2 existing Listed buildings along with a new build element to link the 2 facilities. This in itself posed numerous challenges with regards to creating an air tight inner skin, aligned with keeping the existing Listed external envelop intact, which provides minimal thermal performance.

Several solutions were tested and the challenge of keeping the existing façade became a virtue. The final solution incorporated high performing, Structurally Insulated Panel (SIPS) which was prefabricated off site and lifted in floor by floor internally as the building grew.

The SIPS panels provided a minimal impact solution with regards to making the building air tight (from the inside) and for detailing the existing openings, windows, doors etc. around the building, as well as providing savings in timings, costs on programme.

In addition to the high standard of fabric specified, other passive design measures

were adopted including high performing curtain walling, double glazed windows, doors and roof insulation. Active design measures included mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery, efficient lighting and high performance gas boilers which will provide space heating and hot water to the building.

Large areas of flat roof with high parapets where incorporated into the design to allow ease of access, maintenance to accommodate Photovoltaics to provide a source of on-site renewable energy generation.

Local industry businesses were engaged early on in the brief / design process to ensure local support was gained and a teaching curriculum was developed which was bespoke to the local context and ensured it meet the demands of local employers.

The co-sponsors and other businesses will have an active role in the day-to-day life of the UTC by supporting the delivery

of the curriculum through innovative and interactive learning modules, providing student mentorship and opportunities for experiential learning in the work place. The curriculum has been designed to provide a balance between practical hands-on learning experiences in the workplace and on specialist technology modules and a common curriculum. The teaching approach will be to integrate classroom work, with an apprentice style practical training delivered in partnership with local sustainable engineering, manufacturing and consultancy businesses.

This will provide a broad and balanced curriculum and appropriate focus on the marine and environmental engineering specialisms of the UTC that ensures the needs of pupils with different abilities are met.

The relationship forged between the UTC and local community businesses through the curriculum and building development is seen to be the catalyst for regeneration in Newhaven and the wider district.

Image: Existing carpenters workshop converted into new kitchen, dining facilities with new mezzanine

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CONSERVATION The UTC proposals reflect the scale and ambition of this investment through the regeneration of a key site in a prominent location within Newhaven, safeguarding and promoting Newhaven’s heritage through the retention and conversion of the Marine and Carpenter’s Workshops. The development incorporated bespoke modern teaching facilities required to meet the needs of the UTC@harbourside and the students who will study there, in conjunction with a civic and community presence within the heart of Newhaven.

It is important to note that the buildings were Listed more for its historical merit rather than its architectural, that said there was a deliberate connection made between the buildings history and that of the UTC’s specialism as well as several key Image: Existing building photographs

attributes that were developed into the design which paid homage to the historical building: The timing of the redevelopment proposal could not be more appropriate in its intervention to secure the long term survival of the heritage assets. Both buildings were dilapidated and required extensive underpinning and intuitive detailing to ensure longevity for all the facades.

Specific attention was given to the design of the new modern Windows and doors to ensure they matched the original transom and mullion arrangements.

Where possible, original interior features where retained and included within the design. This included the original columns and one of the original gantry cranes, which

was moved to the river front side of the building and incorporated into an atrium design to ensure it was showcased externally as well internally at different levels.

Careful consideration for colour and materiality of new-build elements ensured the external focus would be about highlighting the heritage buildings. This required massing studies to ensure the educational adjacencies, massing of the existing features came together and that the building as a whole would sit well on the river front.

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Contact Alfonso Padro Director of Education M +44 (0)7920 118 560

Image: New stairwell within marine workshop