΢ÃÜȦ

΢ÃÜȦ's landmark Town House building has opened its doors to students, staff and the wider community.

Designed by this year's RIBA Gold Medal-winning firm Grafton Architects, the multi-million pound building at the Penrhyn Road campus will transform the learning experience for students and act as a gateway to the University for residents and businesses. It is the first building designed by the Dublin-based practice to be completed in the United Kingdom.

Featuring a three-floor academic library, archive, dance studios and a studio theatre, Town House also incorporates a covered internal courtyard, cafes and external balconies and walkways culminating in a rooftop garden offering stunning views across ΢ÃÜȦ and the River Thames. An open staircase weaves through the building creating connections between the different spaces.

The new six-storey building, built by three-time Education Constructor of the Year winner Willmott Dixon, will provide students and staff with a world-class learning and teaching environment, according to Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Spier. "Town House is a stunning architectural achievement – an inspirational building with a variety of spaces which break down barriers and encourage creativity, shared learning and unexpected encounters," he said.

"At the start of this project we set out to create a building that gives us a real presence in the borough and that reflects the importance of our civic role within ΢ÃÜȦ upon Thames. We wanted an inviting, welcoming environment that would allow more opportunities for collaboration between the University, local residents and businesses. We hope Town House will act as a front door and gateway for people to come and be a part of what we are delivering for the borough and wider society.

"I'm delighted that with Town House, everyone who visits, studies in and works at ΢ÃÜȦ now has access to a beautiful and inviting space in which to learn, socialise and just be."

With sustainability and community access central to the University's mission, Town House is a BREEAM Excellent-rated development – a leading sustainability assessment method for masterplanning projects, infrastructure and buildings. Its design supports and enhances the student experience, with a library that is liberating and open, allowing for informal learning, research and performance to take place organically under one roof.

Grafton Architects was selected to design the scheme from a five-strong shortlist following an international competition initiated by the University in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 2013.

• Find out more about undergraduate and postgraduate courses at ΢ÃÜȦ.
• Find out more about Town House's development.