Spec Finish

Feature Nick Tagliarini , Director at fit-out specialist and FIS member Pexhurst, and Claire Bennett , Architect at Vincent + Gorbing, tells us about delivering an ambitious 18-week refurbishment project of Prince Edward Hall, College Lane, University of Hertfordshire. TECHNOLOGY AND WELL-BEING INTERWOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF A LEARNING ENVIORNMENT 10 www.thefis.org T HE University of Hertfordshire is at the forefront of modern teaching, learning and future-proofing its building stock for further growth and development. They are willing to push the boundaries and ultimately their objective is to enhance the learning experience for their students. Both Pexhurst and Vincent + Gorbing have been working in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire for the past 12 and 20 years respectively. The 1950’s Prince Edward Hall is the latest project creating a multi-use learning space for students. Vincent + Gorbing’s brief was to refurbish the Hall, primarily for the engineering department. To design an inspiring, immersive multi-use flat-floor lecture space. The design was to facilitate informal learning by individuals and groups in a stimulating and co-working friendly environment. Pexhurst was commissioned to modernise this outdated space and implement new features for use by students and staff. The investigation Claire Bennett , Architect at Vincent + Gorbing, explained some of the challenges they faced including an impressive albeit vast, empty void of a space that was uninspiring and outdated, moulded plaques adorning the ceiling which were now concealed with a thick layer of paint. Remnants of an old concrete stage at one end and a projector room hovering above the other end forming a protruding bulkhead, which disturbs the 10 metre high pitched volume. The audibility was unpleasant, and the air felt cold and unventilated. Claire said: “As architects, we could imagine huge possibilities and options to use the full height of the void, but requests from the end-users suggested the height was uninviting, echoes, and was overwhelming as a lecture space. I realised a stand-out design concept and intent had to be presented and was key to getting the client and end-users on board to show the full potential of the space. One of themain challenges to explore was to create a feeling of a dropped ceiling, halving the volume but showing the potential of the full height”. The ceiling Claire said: “The concept for the ceiling was loosely based on a circuit board layout which provokes energy and power for a vibrant, inspiring design. The circuit board lighting hangs from a metal grid structure at five metres from the floor level which creates Uninspiring and outdated Prince Edward Hall Work commences to modernise the Prince Edward Hall