Find an architect

Aberystwyth University, Penglais IBERS Teaching & Research Facility

Ceredigion

Project Details

£10m to £49.99M

New Build

Practice

Pascall + Watson LTD

Pascall + Watson Limited , The Warehouses , 10 Black Friars Lane , LONDON , EC4V 6ER , United Kingdom

Located on the stunning west coast of Wales, Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) undertakes inter-disciplinary scientific research to explore the impact of global warming on our food supply. Following a masterplan to consolidate and reorganise the existing provision, Pascall+Watson were selected to design two new flagship teaching and research facilities; one at Penglais, the other at Gogerddan. Sited within the listed green belt campus, the new state-of-the-art Penglais building houses adaptive teaching, laboratory and social hubs designed to encourage collaborative learning. A sleek internal bridge physically connects the faculty’s new and existing facilities, which were simultaneously refurbished to unify the science provision. The BREEAM Excellent rated low energy design features a sedum roof, ground source heat pumps and is 90% passively ventilated, unique for a laboratory of this kind. The award-winning low energy design reflects the pioneering scientific research undertaken by the Institute. The new facilities support the university’s drive to remain at the forefront of global research in its specialist field. The scheme has helped secure both commercial and government funding streams, consequently attracting the best academics, students and researchers.