Anglia Ruskin University – Chelmsford Campus

Anglia Ruskin University, with over 30,000 students, operates in the context of an increasingly competitive educational market and recognises the need to create an inspiring and modern environment that meets the requirements of academic disciplines on its campuses.

Introducing a science facility to the Chelmsford Campus provides the platform to develop and increase science course capability.

The Project involved the retro fitting of an art studio on the ground floor of a multi-storey teaching block to create new CL2 laboratories. The new 21st century science facilities are to provide multi-function teaching laboratories for a variety of sciences.

Anglia Ruskin University commissioned Austin initially to produce a concept design and then to carry out the full detailed design and construction of the project.

The design solution responded to the brief for the provision of a flexible multi-function CL2 teaching laboratory for a minimum of 80 Students and the provision of a physiotherapy laboratory on the ground floor of the existing three storey teaching building.

A significant design challenge was to incorporate a fully conditioned CL2 teaching and support laboratory within the constraints of the existing building which has been designed with a natural ventilation system. Limited services infrastructure was available particularly for fume cupboard extract. This had to be re-configured to utilise redundant extract systems on the floor above.

A ceiling free solution was adopted in order to maximise the volume to the underside of the existing soffit, which also provided space at high level for plant and services distribution. The services have a high standard of finish and have been extensively coordinated as they are all exposed to view.

An existing corridor space has been integrated into the space in order to maximise the laboratory installation and provide natural day light to both sides of the lab.

The existing raised access floor has been retained, lined and finished with welded vinyl flooring.

The laboratory teaching benches provide a flexible arrangement to support the multi-function service requirements, with mobile under bench storage units. Perimeter fixed benching provides space for equipment, MBSC’s and Fume Cupboards.