Sir Alwyn Williams Building, University of Glasgow Computer Science Labs, Architect, Image, Award

Sir Alwyn Williams Building Glasgow

Glasgow University Department of Computing Science, Scotland design by Reiach and Hall Architects

18 Nov 2008

Location: Glasgow

Date built: 2007

Design: Reiach and Hall Architects

Photographs © Paul Zanre

Sir Alwyn Williams Departmental Computer Science Building

Department Computing Science, Sir Alwyn Williams building, University of Glasgow

Design: Reiach and Hall Architects

This project provides research laboratories and associated accommodation in a new building on a brown field site adjacent to and connected to the existing Department of Computing Science within the University’s historic city centre campus. The building sits beside both Victorian and modern 1960’s buildings and is a close neighbour to our award winning Wolfson Medical School Building also for the University.

The original JIF bid submitted in 1999 was re-activated as a SRIF2 funded project and was delivered to the client on budget. The new building and external public streetscape now offers an iconic design which expresses both its architectural place in the city and a state-of-the-art educational research environment.

The Department of Computing Science is one of the foremost in the UK, setting itself the highest standards in education and is internationally recognised for its research. The departmental originally consisted of the series of Victorian terrace buildings in Lilybank Gardens.

The new building on the gap site at the end of the Lilybank Terrace provides a new focus and identity for the Department. A new accessible entrance and circulation core is created with research and teaching facilities alongside break-out informal areas. As well as the new extension building the scope of works encompassed enabling works to No.17 Lilybank Gardens and the Queen Margaret Union Building.

A bespoke pre-construction BREEAM assessment was carried out on the project. The Sir Alwyn Williams building was awarded a “Very Good” BREEAM Rating – a significant award given the site constraints. Materials were specified, where possible, in accordance with the Green Guide and to the BRE ‘A’ rating. Mixed-mode ventilation ie. naturally ventilated with supplementary displacement ventilation and local cooling, was adopted throughout. Externally a new streetscape links Lilybank Gardens and University Gardens generating a much used public realm for the city centre campus. The Sir Alwyn Williams building is well-liked and much-used by the users.

GIA ‘Best Education Building’ commendation 2008, judged Civic Trust Awards 2008 – to be announced early 2009.

“We have mostly moved in now. I thought I would let you know that the space is working well. My group is on floor two and when I go there I feel that there is a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. I don’t know whether you had anticipated the restful aspects of the floors, but they are certainly working that way. It is a pleasure to be in the space.” Keith van Rijsbergen, most senior academic in the Department and Chairman of the Scottish Research Assessment Exercise.