aru Students` Union

Client: aru Students’ Union
Architect: Tiziana Mori                          
Project value: £ 1M

 

Anglia Ruskin University sought to create a Students’ Union Community Hub, open all day long to invite students to gather together in a bright and inspiring space. The project included two phases; phase-1 saw the refurbishment and conversion of the 350 m2 existing ground floor of the Peter Taylor House building into the Students’ Union office, a students’ advice hub and a social area. Phase-2 consisted in a 135 m2 extension of the building, and it is the heart of the project and main social and collaborative space for students.

The design started following a consultation to understand the clients’ (Student’ Union) and students’ requirements: a space they could call home, to support students' collaborations, realise their ambitions and their vision of creating success together. 

The new social space (phase-2) offers a variety of seating options and collaborative spaces, forming the social hub of the Student’s Union day and night. This extension has been developed to make the most of natural light with four big panoramic windows and roof skylights. These elements also allow a passive ventilation strategy; air naturally flows in from the window louvers and out from the skylights. The extension is entirely heated by under-floor heating. The interior space with its bespoke elements is as attractive as the external façade with its various materials – such as weathered steel cladding and long bricks.