The Rolle Building, University of Plymouth
- Status
- Completed 2008
- Client
- University Partnerships Programme
- Value
- £23m
- Procurement Method
- Concept Design
- Services
- Architect and Lead Consultant
- Scale
- 4,500m²
Awards
- Power of Aluminium Award 2008 - Winner
The Rolle Building is an academic building which forms part of a mixed use development known as The James Square Development, also comprising a residential building and a refectory arranged to define a new public urban square.
- Status
- Completed 2008
- Client
- University Partnerships Programme
- Value
- £23m
- Procurement Method
- Concept Design
- Services
- Architect and Lead Consultant
- Scale
- 4,500m²
Awards
- Power of Aluminium Award 2008 - Winner
This is a technologically advanced, multipurpose education environment designed to provide the highest standard of learning facilities and accommodation for both university students and professionals returning to education for CPD. The central space is designed as a ‘learning atrium’ with opportunities for flexible visual displays or exhibitions designed to encourage communication and interaction between staff and students of the arts, sciences and humanities.
Exterior detail
“DMA did an excellent job in designing a building which responded extremely well to all these requirements…The building is in my view very successful in addressing the University’s requirements and a distinguished piece of Architecture which makes a significant contribution to the quality of the University campus.”
The success of the environmental strategy relies upon external shading to the east and west façades. An innovative solution to deal with the low sun angles was developed with fixed perforated aluminium curved shades designed to a geometry which responds to the movement of the sun during the critical periods of occupancy. The resultant sail like shape reinforces a symbolic connection with Plymouth’s maritime heritage.
Interior view
Exterior view
