Month: June 2019

30/06/19

NEWS: Architects Journal – “Coffey wins go-ahead for oval rooftop reading room at City University”

This article was originally published on Architects Journal on 25/06/2019.

Islington Council has approved plans by Coffey Architects for a rooftop extension to the library at City, University of London

Won following an OJEU process last year, the 2,298m² scheme will add a new seventh-floor elliptical reading room to the building in Northampton Square, built in 1970 to designs by Sheppard Robson (then Richard Sheppard, Robson & Partners).

The 45m x 17m oval addition, budgeted at around £7 million, will ‘float’ above a renovated column-free library space and feature a central rooflight and a glulam timber diagrid façade.

According to the practice, the glulam structure was chosen due to its ‘light-weight, sustainability and prefabrication benefits’ and draws ‘on the materiality of the impressive, mature trees within the Northampton Square gardens’.

Aiming for a BREEAM Outstanding rating, the wider scheme also includes the strip-out and refurbishment of the existing sixth floor, which will be reconfigured to house extra student study areas, staff offices and associated facilities.

Director Phil Coffey said: ’This is a uniquely expressive project, which will give the university and its students a study space they deserve. While bold, the proposals are sensitive to the immediate context, with a focus on bringing in light, geometry and a warm materiality.’

Due to start on site this autumn, the project is one of the practice’s first in the higher education sector.

NEWS: Building Design – “Coffey wins consent for rooftop library”

This article was originally published on Building Design on 25/06/2019

Coffey Architects has won planning for its proposals to add a top-floor reading room on a university library in central London. The shape, which is emphasised by a central rooflight in the geometric timber ceiling, was inspired by the adjacent oval Northampton Square gardens.

City University wanted an “ambitious and world-class architectural solution” to expand and refurbish the original 1970s building, designed by Richard Sheppard, Robson & Partners – now known as Sheppard Robson. Coffey won an Ojeu competition last year with its proposals for a new seventh floor, a column-free elliptical space that spans 45m x 17m and encloses a gross internal floor area of 2,298sq m.

Director Phil Coffey said: “This is a uniquely expressive project which will give the university and its students a study space they deserve. While bold the proposals are sensitive to the immediate context with a focus on bringing in light, geometry and a warm materiality. We’re thrilled that Islington council has granted planning permission and thank the Islington Design Review Panel for a rigorous and enjoyable process.”

He said the glulaminated timber diagrid façade would appear to float above the existing building parapet. This will enable proposed plant equipment to be concealed beneath the new space with the removal of the existing, unsightly rooftop structures which are currently visible from the surrounding townscape.

It is one of the practice’s first projects in the higher education sector and is expected to complete by winter 2020.