Hulley and Kirkwood

Project Title: RGU Faculty of Health & Social Care, Aberdeen

Client: Robert Gordon University

Project Value: £22m

Hulley contact: Michael O’Donnell

“Architecture seeks to provide environments in which people can live and work more enjoyably and efficiently and which encourage social and working communities to flourish.”

This was the aim of the Design Team which were appointed to design the new building to house the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the Garthdee Campus. This represents the amalgamation of the Schools of Applied Social Studies, Nursing, Food and Consumer Studies and Health Sciences under one roof. The building caters for 260 staff and 3000 students in a form consistent with the established Garthdee Design Brief and Master Plan Strategy.

A full fresh air variable volume displacement ventilation system was employed which is particularly suited to buildings with high occupancy capacities and ensures a constant replenishment of fresh air to satisfy occupancy needs whilst displacing in room air from the occupied space to high level ceiling voids where the air streams can exchange heat with the thermal mass of the structure. This principle offers many opportunities to utilise local ambient air temperatures and structural mass for free cooling to minimise energy used.

The building has a full fire and smoke detection system, three machine room less lifts, full energy management and control low energy lighting system. A comprehensive leading edge integrated audio visual installation was also installed comprising plasma screens linked to transport scheduling, teaching rooms with data projectors, inputs for video, PC, visiting PC and enhanced sound, lecture theatres with video data projection, slide projection, overhead projection, voice reinforcement and programme sound. Local control and scene setting was provided via touch screens on teaching lecterns.