The facts
Location: Falmouth
Client: Tremough Development Vehicle (TDV)
Joint Venture
Start Date: 2001
Completion Date: 2004
Procurement method: Objective 1
Project Construction Value: £46m
Services provided: Architecture and Interior
Design (delivered by Capita Architecture
Capita Symonds contacts: Debbie Rogers,
Cardiff Interior Design Contact, Jonathan Adams, Project Director,
Jonathan Wedgewood, Project Architect
The project
CUC Tremough is Cornwall’s landmark Objective 1 funded project.
It is the central development of a series of satellite higher
education projects. The development provides an entirely new campus
on a mixed brownfield and greenfield site near to the town of
Penryn.
The scheme comprises 16,000 sq m of new build and 5,000 sq m of
refurbishment and adaptive re-use of existing buildings. The
accommodation combines academic space, art studios, a new learning
resource centre and a range of student amenities. The campus is
shared by students of University College Falmouth and Exeter
University, brought together under the banner of Combined
Universities of Cornwall.
The campus is designed around a series of interlinked
courtyards. The rooftops of the surrounding buildings are all
landscaped and accessible. The rooftop merges into the hillside at
the top of the site, and projects out horizontally, forming a
spectacular platform at the western end with views out to the sea.
The floor levels increase from single storey to 4 storeys, at the
highest, as the hill drops away below.
Capita Architecture and their design team colleagues were
appointed in November 2001. From November 2001 to February 2002 the
following took place:
a) Brief developed with the User
b) An environment impact analysis was carried out and
reviewed
c) The Masterplan was reviewed and amended
d) The design was developed
e) Planning Application was made in February 2002
An OJEC advertisement was placed, using accelerated procedures
for a two stage contract. On the 30th April 2002, a contractor was
appointed. The enabling works commenced in July 2002. The Main
Contract commenced in September 2002. The total value of the scheme
is £45 million, split into two phased handovers, the first Ph1a
completed in September 2003. The second, Ph1b, completed September
2004.
The whole scheme was completed within 35 months form taking the
brief through to occupation. During the same period Capita
Architecture were architects to the D+B contractor who provided 500
student residencies valued at approximately £17 million. Both
schemes were completed within programme and budget.
Capita Architecture’s Interiors Team led a series of User
workshops, with staff and students, to enable us to understand
their environmental requirements and to determine 1:200 and 1:50
space planning. Many of the student areas and public receptions
accommodate specialist joinery items, designed and detailed by
Capita Architecture’s Interiors team.
Awards
• “Project of the Year”, Michelmores Western Morning News
Commercial Property Award
• Concrete Society Awards (Commendation)
• RICS South West Regional Award - Regeneration