Penryn, Cornwall, UK
The Centre is the new Combined Universities of Cornwall home for the former Dartington College, and provides dance, music, theatrical and recording studios and performance spaces, and associated facilities. Grainge Architects as part of a design-and-build partnership developed the design from a concept by another specialist performing arts architect.
The £14m building features concrete framed construction giving high thermal mass, and relies on natural passive ventilation throughout, which with the need for excellent acoustic performance, including acoustic containment, all carried out within a fast-track delivery, presented many design-detail and co-ordination challenges,.
The building contains many sustainable features such as maximising natural daylight and ventilation, using locally sourced materials, a 'green' roof with carefully selected wild flower seeding, solar shading, and a building form which minimises ground engineering works, achieving a BREEAM 'excellent' rating. The building won the Michelmores / Western Morning News "Eco Building of the Year" award in 2011.
