Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects

Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Interior Photography, ChairLower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Exterior Photography, Aerial View PhotographyLower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Interior Photography, Stairs, HandrailLower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Exterior PhotographyLower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - More Images+ 20

  • Clients: Durham University
  • Delivery Architects: Space Architects
  • Project Manager, Quantity Surveyor And Cost Consultant: Turner & Townsend
  • Environmental / M&E Engineers (Delivery Phase):: Cundall
  • Clerk Of Works: Hickton (on behalf of Durham University)

  • Structural And Civil Engineering: Buro Happold, Cundall
  • City: Durham
  • Country: United Kingdom
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Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Exterior Photography
© Jack Hobhouse

Text description provided by the architects. In 2017, a new University Strategy was launched to offer strategic direction for Durham University over a ten-year period. FaulknerBrowns were engaged to inform and support this strategy with the development of a new University Masterplan. Central to the new University Strategy and Masterplan was the provision of enhanced teaching and learning facilities to support an increase in student numbers, enable the adoption of new pedagogies, and to create facilities that could be shared by all students rather than be aligned to specific faculties or departments.

Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Jack Hobhouse
Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Jack Hobhouse

The Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre was the first strategic project to emerge from this plan. Independent research into how spatial design can support the success of innovative pedagogies informed the development of teaching and learning ‘space model’, which became the basis for the building’s accommodation brief. 

Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Image 20 of 25
Site plan

A top-lit central courtyard forms the social and circulation hub of the building giving access to the café, 250 and 500 seat lecture theatres, seminar spaces and project rooms. A diverse mix of teaching spaces surrounds the lecture theatres, supporting traditional seminars as well as more innovative pedagogies. The vaulted top floor of the centre provides an extensive ‘learning commons’ with a broad range of settings for focused, contemplative, active and collaborative learning.

Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Interior Photography, Stairs, Handrail
© Jack Hobhouse
Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Image 22 of 25
Level 00 plan
Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Interior Photography, Stairs
© Jack Hobhouse

The site is located adjacent to a conservation area and within view of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To ensure the new centre integrates sensitively with its context, the overall building volume is broken down into an assemblage of smaller repeated elements to relate more closely to the fabric and grain of the historic city. 

Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Interior Photography
© Kristen McCluskie

A three-storey module with a 15x18m footprint was established as the building block from which the centre was formed. Each module has two façade types: a ‘fenestrated’ façade generally on the long face, and a ‘gable’ façade to the short face. Each module is capped by an asymmetric pyramidal roof with a central roof light. Twelve of these modules rotated and handed, create the plan layout and building volume, with one of the central elements being ‘removed’ to create a focal internal courtyard. 

Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Interior Photography
© Jack Hobhouse

The dynamic roof profile not only delivers interest in the external form, it also creates a series of dramatic top-lit ceiling coffers to the upper-level learning commons. Full height windows provide views to the surrounding landscape and glimpses of the city’s iconic cathedral.

Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Interior Photography
© Jack Hobhouse

An elegant and durable palette of materials gives character to the exterior. Handmade facing bricks, in a combination of buff and grey, form the predominant external material. The pyramidal roofs are finished in a traditional standing seamed zinc sheet to contrast with the tones of the brickwork below and respond appropriately to the conservation setting.

Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Interior Photography
© Kristen McCluskie

An integrated technology and sustainability strategy was central to the university’s vision for the teaching and learning centre. The centre has therefore been designed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard and to deliver EPC ‘A’ rated energy performance.

Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Exterior Photography, Aerial View Photography
© Jack Hobhouse

Since opening, the building has established itself as a hugely popular facility for teaching and learning, embraced by students and academics alike.

Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Jack Hobhouse

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Project location

Address:Durham, United Kingdom

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre / FaulknerBrowns Architects" 01 Mar 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/934656/lower-mountjoy-teaching-and-learning-centre-faulknerbrowns-architects> ISSN 0719-8884

© Jack Hobhouse

Lower Mountjoy教学中心,金字塔形动态屋顶 / FaulknerBrowns Architects

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