The main City Campus of Northumbria University is located in the heart of Newcastle. The new purpose-built £100 million extension at City Campus East (which is linked to the established site at City Campus West by a dramatic footbridge over the motorway) was officially opened in July 2008.
The project has already been proclaimed "Low Carbon New Build of the Year", and it recently won the university and the designers, SLKR Consulting, a national Civic Trust award for external environment and community benefit.
Built on the site of an old Warner cinema, City Campus East recycles no less than 95 per cent of the material required for its construction. A translucent panelling called Kalwall is used on the exterior walls facing into the courtyard to let in light and retain heat. A light well projecting above the roof of the Newcastle Business School and the School of Law - which pierces the building down to ground-floor level - saves energy by bringing natural light right into the interior.
The campus incorporates a range of environmentally friendly features, including rain harvesters to gather water to flush toilets, rooftop solar collectors to produce hot water, computerised heating and lighting sensors to ensure that power is used only when rooms are occupied.
Send suggestions for this architectural series to: matthew.reisz@tsleducation.com.