The Beatrice Shilling Building, designed by Stride Treglown, has been shortlisted for the RICS Awards 2019 in the ‘Design Through Innovation’ category.
The Beatrice Shilling Building at Royal Holloway, University of London, houses the university’s new Department of Electronic Engineering.
Inspired by a Faraday cage, this striking building creates a strong identity for this new department at the heart of the university campus.
The building, which has been classified a BREEAM ‘Excellent scheme, is named after the pioneering British aeronautical engineer and motor racer. It contains a lecture theatre, seminar rooms, labs and creative and collaborative spaces, and provides an innovative environment and resources for the next generation of scientists and engineers to achieve their goals.
This fantastic technology-led facility is designed to inspire students and staff, to develop a creative approach to study, learning and research, and extend the vision for the future of the university.
Featuring large, modern lecture spaces for teaching, it has ‘help yourself’ collaboration spaces, research and project fabrication, computing and electronics laboratories. The inclusion of a field laboratory on the roof with solar panels and a wind turbine gives hands-on practical experience with alternative energy generation.
‘It’s a building you want to be in…it’s a place where you feel stimulated to be creative.’
Professor Paul Hogg, Vice Principal for Innovation and Regional Affairs at Royal Holloway.
On a recent visit, Lisa, a Technician told us:
‘I love this building, it is our building. Our students absolutely adore it, it’s their home.’
Divisional Director at Stride Treglown, Cora Kwiatkowski, who led the project through all stages, added:
‘We turned the client’s vision to provide an inspiring, creative and welcoming space into reality which has already encouraged a more diverse student population to study engineering. It is fantastic to see the building so loved by students and staff alike, and I very much enjoy going back observing how the spaces are used’.
The RICS Awards showcase the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. They celebrate the achievements and successes of RICS professionals and their impact on local communities.
