introduction - university of reading

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Introduction A large proportion of the residential accommodation on the campus requires major repair or refurbishment in the next 2–3 years. The replacement of older student halls of residence formed a key theme in the University’s Whiteknights Campus Development Plan. A number of comments were received, as a result of the consultation on the Development Plan, concerning the proposed replacement of halls of residence. The majority of respondents supported redevelopment. There was concern that redevelopment should minimise the loss of green space within the campus. Other comments related to the nature of the accommodation to be provided. The plan below shows the Development Plan, as amended following the consultation exercise. Two sites were proposed for new student accommodation, one adjacent to Bridges Hall (Lakeside) and the other adjacent to Childs Hall and Whiteknights Hall (Park). This exhibition focuses on the Park site as the Lakeside site is to be redeveloped at a future date and is no longer part of this redevelopment proposal or this exhibition.

A programme of redevelopment is proposed which will provide the opportunity to offer a variety of self-catered accommodation, complete with a new social hub to include a flexible catering facility. A phased approach is proposed whereby only a minimal loss of student bedrooms will occur before the first phase of new accommodation (about 920 bedspaces) can be made available for the academic year 2010–11. The first phase involves redevelopment on the existing but largely unoccupied Whiteknights Hall and building new accommodation on land to the south of Childs Hall. Childs Hall itself will then be removed to provide a site for a second phase of rooms to bring the total number of new rooms to around 1,850. The plans also involve the closure of the Upper Redlands Road access points for vehicles, following the construction of a short road link to the halls from the main campus.

The University of Reading manages just under 4,500 student bedspaces in and around the Whiteknights campus and seeks to accommodate all first year undergraduates in halls of residence. There are currently 1670 study bedrooms available at the Whiteknights campus in Bridges, Childs, Whiteknights, Wessex and Windsor Halls.

Reading and Wokingham Local Authority Boundary

Halls redevelopment Whiteknights campus

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Key points

reduce reliance on accommodation in the town

reduce traffic on nearby residential roads with the closure of the Whiteknights Hall entrance

protect existing important trees

provide good access to social facilities and catering

minimise accommodation losses during construction phase create more sustainable and energy efficient buildings

target a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions

use renewable technologies to reduce energy use

avoid development within the Wildlife Heritage zones

increase the numbers of students accommodated at Whiteknights Campus and reduce the dependency on rented accommodation within the town

provide the opportunity to build student focussed accommodation and amenities enable improvements to security

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D - Selected option

8 strategic options were evaluated and scored for the provision of new accommodation across the campus.

These investigated strategic proposals across the Lakeside and Park sites. The four options illustrated on this sheet were shortlisted and option D illustrates the preferred one.

The new development will:

The bed numbers illustrated on option D vary slightly from our current proposals, this is due to the introduction of townhouses and changes to block configurations which have arisen from the design process.


Accessible Room

Social Hub

Primary AccessibleRoutes

ResidentTutor Flat

Views from ResidentTutor Flat

Senior ResidentTutor

Proposed Pedestrian routes

Existing Pedestrian routes(to be retained)

VehicularRoutes

ProposedParking

ExistingParking(to be retained)

Closed Entrances

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Project strategies

The first phase involves the demolition of the older parts of Whiteknights Hall, parts of which are no longer in use.

This is programmed to take place this September. This enables redevelopment to provide about 550 new bedspaces at Whiteknights Hall starting in the Spring of 2009. At the same time new accommodation will be built south of Childs Hall. Both developments will need to be ready for occupation for the academic year 2010/11. Phase 2 will involve the construction on the site of Childs Hall. Phase 3, which is not part of this exhibition would involve the redevelopment of Bridges Hall in due course.

Phasing strategy

Accessibility strategy Resident tutor strategy

Vehicular strategyPedestrian strategy

Phase One

Phase Two

Reading and Wokingham Authority Border

Childs Phase 2

Whiteknights

Social Hub

Childs Phase 1


8 Bed Flat 10 Bed Flat Resident Tutor Flat

Single RoomDouble Room

Conference use

Student use

Option A Option B

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Internal layouts

The cluster flat consists of eight or ten ensuite bedrooms connected to a shared kitchen

Cluster flats

TownhousesThe Townhouse is a four storey building with twelve bedrooms and six bathrooms arranged over three floors with open plan kitchen living spaces on the ground floor

Ground Floor Plan First Floor Plan


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Whiteknights Hall site: context

View 1

View 2

View 3

View 4

View 5

View 6

View 7

View 8

Views in context


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Proposed Development Upper Redlands

Road

St Joseph’s School

Section A-A

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Whiteknights Hall site: proposed layout

The Crescent

Upper Redlands Road

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4 STOREY HEIGHT

ExISTInG BuILdInG TO BE RETAInEd


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Whiteknights Hall site: proposed elevations & perspectives

Outer elevational treatment

View 1 - From Whiteknights courtyard looking towards the Crescent

Inner elevational treatment

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View 2 - From Whiteknights courtyard looking towards Windsor Hall and proposed social hub

Outer Elevational Treatment

Inner Elevational Treatment

Option A

Grey brick and render panels

Option B

Red brick and metal panels

Option C

Grey brick and metal panels

Option C

Red brick with grey brick plinth and render panels

Option B

Red brick with blue brick plinth and render panels

Option A

Grey brick with blue brick plinth and render panels

ViewKey


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Childs Hall site:context

View 1

View 2

View 3

View 4 Views in context

View 5

View 6 View 7


Courtyard 1 Formal Green Courtyard 2

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Section B-B

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Childs Hall site:proposed layout

Cycle Store & Plant room

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4 STOREY HEIGHT

ExISTInG BuILdInG TO BE RETAInEd

REAdInG And WOKInGHAM BOROuGH BOundARY

Green

ow

Courtyard 1

Formal Green

Courtyard 2


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Childs Hall site:proposed elevations & perspectives

Outer elevational treatment

Inner elevational treatment

View 1 - Looking south along main route towards courtyard one

View 2 - Looking north from cycle path near lake

Outer Elevational Treatment

Inner Elevational Treatment

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Option A

Buff brick and render panels

Option B

Render and metal panels

Option C

Townhouses: Timber and buff brick

Option C

Townhouses: Timber and buff brick

Option B

Buff brick with blue brick plinth and render panels

Option A

Render with metal panels

ViewKey


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Windsor Hallsocial hub

Designs are at an early stage with a concept scheme indicated for the purpose of this exhibition. To reinforce the nature of a social hub, a new piazza has been proposed to create a flexible meeting, study and activity space for students. The restaurant borders one side of the piazza, with the café and reception/offices bordering the other two sides. The design aims to maximise new and existing pedestrian routes to focus movement patterns around the new Hub.

This design includes a new external walkway cut through the ground floor of Windsor Hall to link across with the new Childs Hall and the new Whiteknights Hall. The interiors of the restaurant and café areas will be both contemporary and comfortable. The images on this board give a feel for the type of spaces under consideration.

As part of the overall redevelopment, the area around Windsor Hall will become the social hub for the new Childs and Whiteknights halls of residence. Facilities will include a new restaurant, a café area and a laundry, as well as a new reception and offices for accommodation services.

View from within cafe looking out

Approach to new social hub from Whiteknights Hall site

Green

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McCrombie


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The next step

Planning applications for the first phase of the development will be prepared for submission to Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils at the end of September 2008. When the planning applications are submitted there will be further opportunity to comment on the proposals. Planning applications for the redevelopment of the existing Childs Hall site are programmed to be submitted in October 2008.

Thank you for attending the exhibition. We welcome your comments as these will inform the statement of community involvement. Response forms are available at the exhibition or via www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-locals.asp.

Please submit your comments by 5pm Thursday 24th July 2008.

The University will consider the responses received from the exhibition and the consultants will review the redevelopment proposals to accommodate comments where possible.

Crescent

Whiteknights

Social hub

Greenow

McCrombie

Childs Phase 2

Childs Phase 1


introduction - university of reading

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