New Teaching and Learning Building for Newcastle University
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GSS New Teaching and Learningreview Building 42for Newcastle University Newcastle University’s Faculty of Medical Sciences is in the process of diversifying its undergraduate provision and increasing student numbers for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes. As part of this ongoing process, GSSArchitecture have been appointed to design a shared teaching and learning facility to include specialist spaces and staff offices for the Schools of Psychology and Sport, Exercise and Nutritional Sciences. The new open access building is to be located on Plot 4, adjacent to the Sports Hall and the new Park View Student Residences and close to the main Medical School. The innovative building will provide functional and flexible facilities for teaching and learning, and has been designed to facilitate integrated research by promoting collaboration between disciplines through shared encounter spaces and the provision of breakout areas. This approach will support the development of cross-disciplinary research and teaching, integrating both the physical and psychological aspects of exercise in relation to health and performance. The facility will become a hub for a wide range of students who occupy the surrounding buildings, including the Sports Hall and various student residences, in addition to meeting the needs of the expanding Faculty of Medical Sciences. Construction work will commence in September 2018 and is due to be completed before Christmas 2019. From the Editor Office Expansion for 3 Locations It is with great pride that I hand over a successful As part of GSSArchitecture’s continued growth and The new Gloucester Studio will enable expansion of our practice and an incredibly talented team to the next sustainable expansion, the practice has recently moved South West project portfolio. Gloucester are currently generation. the Central Milton Keynes Office, Newcastle Studio and working on a number of interesting projects, including Gloucester Studio to new, larger premises. a masterplan for Bath College and residences for both In 2008, along with the rest of our industry, we were the University of Bristol and Oxford Brookes University. hit with the worst financial crisis that the UK had seen The new Milton Keynes Office will facilitate the delivery since the First World War. These 10 years coincided of an increasing number of projects secured in the Tom Lyons said, “We have enjoyed a range of recent with my time as Senior Partner and it gives me great surrounding region, including an Innovation Centre for design successes on some varied and exciting new pleasure to report that we not only weathered the Moulton College and new commercial developments, projects which has allowed us to invest in new staff storm but radically improved in all areas, such as as well as many of the practice’s London schemes. and commit to moving to larger offices.” management, administration, marketing, product design, cost control, and ICT. As the IMS Partner, I The Newcastle Studio will remain located in Hoults An increased presence in these three regions will was also responsible for implementing the practice’s Yard, a dynamic business village occupied by a number enhance the service that GSS can provide by allowing Integrated Management System, a role that will now be of businesses and creative firms, within a larger office, for growth and diversification across all sectors, as well undertaken by William Assheton. providing a stimulating environment in which GSS can as building upon established client relationships and continue to grow and thrive. forging new connections. As I have said many times before, “We are proud of our past, but excited by our future.” The timeline of award-winning buildings within this newsletter is not a product of one individual but a 20 years of Investors in People coherent, hard-working and talented team, which it has been an honour to be a part of. I leave the practice in safe hands and in good health, with many thanks to our numerous and loyal clients who have entrusted our teams to perform to the highest professional standards. However, everyone at GSSArchitecture knows I will miss them and my role in delivering cost effective, innovative, practical yet exemplary Architecture. In 1983 we had one office serving Northamptonshire, we now operate out of five offices, embracing the whole of the UK. Tom Lyons as Senior Partner and Ian Bray as Managing Partner are supported by a well-balanced team with all the right skills to allow our practice to continue to GSSArchitecture recently celebrated 20 years of “The Investors in People standard helps to link people flourish. “Investors in People” accreditation, as well as being development and skills acquisition to the specific awarded the accolade of Silver Level status. aims and objectives of a business. By assessing and improving the performance of employees, Investors GSS originally gained recognition in 1997, being one in People provides a framework to help businesses David Allsop of the first architectural practices in the UK to achieve manage change and enhance success.” this award. The practice has since been re-assessed every three years to prove ongoing compliance with the The certification forms part of the practice’s Integrated standard. Management System (IMS), which includes Quality Management, Environmental Management, Health GSS partner William Assheton explained: and Safety Management, and the recently achieved Cyber Essentials PLUS certification. years at GSS The Practice35 Wishes David Allsop “Bon Voyage” David Allsop, who originally joined GSS in 1983 as a Chartered Architect and became a Partner in 1985, is all set to retire from the practice at the end of June, although he will continue to be closely involved with one or two key accounts on a consultancy basis. Serving as Senior Partner from 2008 until 2018, David’s knowledge and expertise have been invaluable to GSS’s many clients in the school, further education and higher education sectors, and he has been extensively involved in partnering and framework arrangements with a number of major clients, particularly in the tertiary education sector. The Restaurant at the University of Northampton won the Civic Trust Award in 1995 His experience has resulted in a track record of delivering innovative and award-winning landmark buildings against tight budgets and timescales, particularly in areas which have known planning sensitivities, such as the historic cities of Durham, Oxford and Ely. David has also designed a number of significant flagship buildings in Northamptonshire. These projects include the masterplan of the University of Northampton, where David was the Retained Architect Cranfield School of Management, 2007 for many years. David is actively involved in the RIBA and has served The design of the restaurant, situated in the heart of as a member of the National Council. He is a past the campus, won a national Civic Trust Award, while Chairman of East Midlands RIBA and was also a former a model of the building was displayed at the Royal President of Northamptonshire Society of Architects. Academy’s Summer Exhibition in 1994. Oakham School Library, 1994 Boughton House Stable Block The Roadmender Northamptonshire Northampton Richard Hamilton Building Oxford Brookes University 1983 1996 1999 2004 1994 1997 Leather Conservation Centre University of Northampton Restaurant Model Laxton Junior School Exhibited at Royal Academy Oundle Summer Exhibition Indoor Cricket School Business School Northants Cricket Durham University Old Bishop’s Palace King’s Ely 2008 2012 2013 2011 2012 2018 Sports Centre Stamford School Newton Building New Boarding House University of Northampton Rugby School The Durham Business School won ‘Best Educational Building’ at the LABC Building Excellence Awards in 2014 Central Festival Opera, Derngate Northampton, 2002 Further examples of David’s projects around the county Other projects at the University of Northampton include include Northamptonshire County Cricket Club’s Indoor the Leather Conservation Centre, Cottesbrooke Building, Cricket School, Laxton Junior School, the Roadmender, Senate Building and the refurbishment and remodelling Brooke Weston Academy’s New Library and The of the Grade II listed Newton Building. Masque Theatre at Latimer School. The latest projects David has designed include Durham “We are all very grateful for University’s new Business School, which won ‘Best the immense contribution Educational Building’ at the 2014 LABC Building that David has made not just Excellence Awards, a new boarding house for Rugby to the practice but to local School, which is due to be completed later this year, business over the past 35 as well as many projects for universities at Oxford, years. The last 10 to 15 in Leicester, Reading and Cranfield. particular have been very Staff Christmas Party, 2015 successful, when GSS has David has implemented our Integrated Management had a period of sustained System, which includes Quality Management The team at GSS, which has grown to more than 60 a n d c o n t r o l l e d g r o w t h . ” ISO 9001:2015, Environmental Management in recent years within five offices across the UK, wish Tom Lyons ISO 14001:2015, Occupational Health and Safety David all the best for his retirement, with his wife, Judy, Management BS 18001:2007 and Cyber Essentials and their sons Matthew and Christopher, and our door PLUS, together with ensuring GDPR compliance. will always be open for him. Like all successful businesses, GSS continually looks “I have thoroughly enjoyed to the future, and we have been planning for David’s departure for the past few years. We have ensured that the last 35 years at the right management structure is in place to continue GSSArchitecture and have to serve our clients’ needs. had the opportunity to work on many projects with David has been highly valued as Senior Partner, always terrific clients and of course showing a commitment to ensuring staff perform to a great team.