UK based HawkinsBrown Architects has won a competition to design a £60m civic square and student support centre for the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
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The company was chosen by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the university from seven shortlisted participants.
UCLan University's board chairman David Taylor said: “The standard of submissions was very high, but it was HawkinsBrown’s visually impactful, well thought-out concept design that won the day.
“HawkinsBrown demonstrated a true understanding of what students want, as well as the city of Preston with the concept design referencing our industrial heritage.
“It is a firm that has extensive experience of partnering with universities and, importantly, the final design will deliver on our ambition of drawing the University and city together like never before.”
The design concept presented by HawkinsBrown Architects features a biodiverse roof, LED lighting, a pavilion café bar, and a large glass façade.
The company will now produce the final design proposal, which will take into account feedback from judges, UCLan staff and students, as well as members of the public.
Landscape architects Plincke and lighting and art designers Jason Bruges will form part of the design team for the project, which is expected to be completed in 2019. It will be served by AECOM as the project and cost manager and BDP as the provider of multi-disciplinary engineering services.
The design project is a part of UCLan’s £200m remodelling plan.
Image: Artistic rendition of the future UCLan student support centre. Photo: courtesy of University of Central Lancashire.
