Rehabilitating 1960s Brutalist buildings for a new future - Mike Entwisle, Buro Happold

The University sector in the UK has over 10 million square metres of buildings constructed in the 1960s, much of which is in need of renovation to make it fit for the challenges of the 21st Century. Amongst the most challenging of these are the many Brutalist buildings which are viewed as having national or local architectural merit, or which form important parts of the character of a University’s estate.

Buro Happold will present their approach using real world examples, showcasing how their work on themes as wide ranging as embodied and in use carbon, user experience, innovative space use and the response to heritage issues have enabled them to deliver inspirational projects which attract students and staff, stimulate learning and research, and respond to the challenges presented by climate change. This will also include input from extensive surveys of students and staff which emphasise where they feel investment should be made.

Projects will include the David Attenborough building at the University of Cambridge, the Appleton Tower at the University of Edinburgh, and UCL’s Institute of Education. These examples will enable us to discuss techniques such as extensive user consultation, façade analysis, space mapping, performance in use assessments, detailed environmental and energy modelling as well as assessment of the embodied carbon benefits of retention of the existing building.