Bath Spa University’s Locksbrook Campus has been awarded three prestigious architectural accolades.
The university’s Locksbrook Campus | Photo © Bath Spa University
Home to the university’s Bath School of Art, Film and Media, and Bath School of Design, the site has been chosen as the ‘Overall Winner’, ‘Education Winner’ and ‘Sustainability Winner’ at this year’s Schüco Excellence Awards.
The Grade II listed building designed by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw in 1976 was formerly the Herman Miller factory and was bought by Bath Spa in 2016.
Following a period of remodelling and refurbishment by Grimshaw Architects, the building was transformed into Bath Spa’s Locksbrook Campus and was opened in 2020.
Now in their 10th year, the Schüco Excellence Awards attract a broad range of projects from practices both large and small.
In their assessment of all entries, the judges focused on four key criteria: creativity, innovation, technical skill and creative collaboration.
When announcing the Locksbrook Campus project between Grimshaw Architects, Structura and Bath Spa University as the Overall Winner, Carol Patterson, Office for Metropolitan Architecture UK Director said: “This exceptional and inspiring adaptive reuse project illustrates how the industry has evolved to meet contemporary performance requirements, while maintaining the original aesthetic intent.”
Ingrid Petit, Associate at Feilden Fowles Architects, added: “The refurbishment of the façade on this outstanding adaptive reuse project is particularly successful, combining sensitive repairs and reuse of the primary framing and curtain walling channels.”
Speaking on the significance of these award wins, Dr Kristin Doern, Head of School for Bath School of Design at Bath Spa University, said: “Winning not one but three Schüco Excellence Awards is high praise indeed for the work that has gone into reimagining our incredible Locksbrook Campus and making it a hub for creators, thinkers, makers and doers.
“We are immensely proud of these achievements and we are grateful for the long lasting positive impact that the project has had, and will continue to have, on our community.
“These awards encapsulate how we live, breathe and teach design education – particularly architectural design – by utilising inspiration from the building and surroundings.”
Ian Parkes, Architecture Course Leader at Bath Spa University, added: “Through our Architecture degree, you quite literally learn about the relationships between conservation, planning and the use and reuse of spaces in relation to their location and within their historic and future contexts.
“How we design, create, reinvent and repurpose our built environment is constantly evolving, and Locksbrook Campus is an excellent real-world example of this.”
Commenting on the three Schüco Excellence award wins, Ben Heath, Principal at Grimshaw Architects said: “This award recognises the close collaboration between Grimshaw and the specialist façade contractor Structura in delivering the new home for Bath School of Art, Film and Media, and Bath School of Design; and is a wonderful demonstration of the school’s passionate belief in the transformative effect of Design and Making working together to deliver exceptional outcomes.”
The Locksbrook Campus has previously received both a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) South West Award and RIBA National Award, recognising and celebrating what an inspirational place it is to come together to create, learn and grow.
