NEWS ARTICLE: Conran brings penthouse living to Martin's Leicester College Hall

(Building Design: First Look, 04 April 2008, www.bdonline.co.uk )

Conran & Partners has revealed its proposed refurbishment of Leicester University's College Hall buildings, originally designed by Leslie Martin and Trevor Dannatt.

The 9,850sq m scheme, which will turn the student accommodation into a mix of private and affordable residential units, extends the modernist building by creating a series of penthouses.

Two new-build terraces of town houses and an apartment block will also be added to the site.

Associate director Lee Davies said that although the building was not one of Martin’s best known projects, it deserved its grade II listing. “The courtyards are magical,” he said. “To have it populated again would be great.”

He said the project would be a mix of contemporary thinking and a return to the original concepts that informed the original design.

“The main change is retaining the existing structure in its entirety, but building on top of it to make it viable. We’re trying to do something that will retain the existing form and principles, and make it more legible.”

The metal-clad extensions will add act as a “lid” to the building, significantly boosting its thermal performance. Existing plant rooms will be used to house a combined heat and power unit in each block.

As well as retaining the original building, the new scheme also retains Latimer House, which although not listed is a popular local landmark.

The practice significantly reworked its proposals after withdrawing a previous design from planning. It expects to submit a new application by the end of April, with work due to start on site by the end of the year.

Leicester University sparked controversy in January when it signalled it might attempt to demolish Stirling & Gowan’s engineering laboratory.

For more information please contact: Emilie Lemons, Conran & Partners: cp@conranandpartners.com

April 2008