The Computer Science Building, University of York — Sustainable architecture | creative design | Sheffield | South Yorkshire | Derbyshire | Bespoke residential architecture | Architectural Design

The Computer Science Building, University of York.

The Computer Science Building was part of the first phase of the University of York’s Heslington East campus expansion. The building uses the courtyard typology to create a sense of place in a green-field parkland site isolated from any urban context. This takes the form of two curling wings around a shared departmental garden, meeting at an entrance atrium. One of these wings houses predominantly academic and administrative offices, with the other containing teaching and research laboratory functions.

The form also has a climatic rational, as the narrow floor plan allows for natural ventilation and high levels of natural light. Sheltered within the resulting space is a freestanding, single storey structure that houses a common room and seminar facilities.

This building occupied most of my early time at BDP and I was influential in its overall design and realisation. Key features where I left my mark were the detailed development of the courtyard plan form; the integration of architectural program with the structural and environmental strategy; the expression of structure – for example fair-faced concrete shear walls; creating opportunities for social interaction – for example the breakout spaces found at the “cranks” of the research wing; the enjoyment of tactile features - handrails, benches, balustrades, staircases (I was responsible for the design of all the feature staircases in the building); the conical ventilation rooflights; and the abstraction of reed beds (inspired by its lakeside location) to derive the zinc cladding pattern.