Rick Mather Architects have won a prestigious invited competition to provide
a strategic Masterplan and new Academic Buildings at the new University
of Lincoln Campus.
The masterplan establishes a strategy for the University's development, both short-term and long-term, to give the high quality built environment which the Vice Chancellor, Professor David Chiddick, sees as key to the University's success in the future.
The 20 hectare (50 acre) brownfield riverside site next to the City centre is exceptional, with views across Brayford Pool to the Castle and Cathedral on the hill above.
"The phased development demonstrates how the full potential of the site could be exploited. The first phase creates a central square to give maximum initial impact, with a sequence of buildings and routes linking to the surrounding city", says Rick Mather, adding: "Phase one of the proposal gives the impression of a completed campus, while allowing potential for further developments to be added."
Later phases demonstrate options that would make the most of such initiatives as burying the adjacent railway, if such plans are implemented in the longer term. The entire development is expected to take five to ten years, with the first phase completing in 2003.
Proposals for the first phase of development include buildings for a new Lincoln School of Architecture, the Faculty of Media and Communications, the Department of Biological Sciences, an Arts and Media Industries Centre, a 750 seat theatre, 2 cinemas and exhibition and performance spaces. The estimated value of this phase is circa £20 million.
The new University of Lincoln is an incorporation of the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside and neighbouring further education colleges.
The other shortlisted finalists in the competition were Arup Associates, BDP Manchester, Fielden Clegg Bradley, and Hawkins/Brown.