Estates: Architect & Lead Designer for New North Haugh Building

Architect and Lead Designer for the New North Haugh Building at the University of St Andrews.

To facilitate the development of the New North Haugh Building the University of St Andrews require to engage a Professional Team incorporating the Design Team, which will be led by the Architect and Lead Designer.

The Architect and Lead Designer will ultimately be responsible for developing the Final Project Brief in conjunction with the University and subsequently developing/co-ordinating the design package, that addresses the University’s requirements whilst recognising cost and time parameters.

The University has a number of developments planned to expand the built estate across its Town Centre, Eden and North Haugh campuses. On the North Haugh, a new building of 6,150m² is required to collocate the School of Mathematics and Statistics to a single site by academic year 2025/6. The construction budget is set at GBP20m. This team will be required to work with key users, departments and the university community to progress a design that will capture both the university’s current aspirations to create an inclusive and innovative environment, and some future requirements, all to realise the full potential of this key North Haugh site.

Background

The new building will optimise a central location on the North Haugh on the site of the existing New Technology Centre. It will form a core facility in which all NH users may traverse, congregate, and collaborate. The addition of c6,150sqm of research, teaching and learning space will support the student growth already achieved whilst, by designing in flexibility and adaptability, we will strive to future proof the facility to account for further developments in pedagogy, research methods, technology and digital innovation.

The building will provide a new, single site and front door identity for the School of Mathematics and Statistics with collaboration spaces for the School of Computer Science. It will also provide new and innovative central teaching facilities, learning, study and social spaces with a café facility that will be available to the staff and student community.

The space brief will be prepared in consultation with the Schools and our Timetabling team to reflect the student growth achieved and to future proof teaching space demand that will arise during the phased refurbishment of North Haugh buildings such as Physics and Purdie. The space brief will reflect recent changes in working practises and pedagogy experienced as a consequence of covid related restrictions. A range of work settings will be explored to meet academic needs alongside an aspiration to encourage more flexibility and utilisation efficiencies. The student experience is at the heart of our operation where we strive to provide a wide range of learning environments to suit all, be that quiet, group or interactive study space. The suite of teaching spaces will include a raked, active lecture theatre alongside a flat floored, flexible lecture space. Two 100 seat computer classrooms are envisaged plus a selection of tutorial and seminar rooms.

The development of the design brief, procurement, and construction strategy around the project will strive to attain net-zero carbon, aligning to the University target of becoming a net-zero carbon organisation by 2035. The project must achieve a minimum of BREEAM Excellent, EPC A rating, and Carbon Neutral for energy.

It is intended that Urban Realm improvements to the North Haugh should form a separate project following the early design stages of the new building, improving the environment for all users, tying together activities on the NH and demonstrating the integrated nature of the University’s scientific endeavours. Additional information: All tenders for the University of St Andrews are administered through our eTendering System (InTend).To Express an Interest please go to our tender website at intendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews ↗

Please note that 'Notes of Interest' placed via PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) are not automatically accepted