Erskine Williamson Building
King’s Buildings, University of EdinburghClient: University of Edinburgh
Project value: £3.14m
The Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions (CSEC) was the first of three projects at King’s Buildings
campus to implement the University’s sustainability strategy. Completed in 2002, the building provided
high-quality specialist research facilities for a joint venture between five departments and included optical,
cryogenic, chemical and X-ray laboratories in addition to offices, post-graduate facilities and seminar accommodation.
As part of its remit to facilitate innovative research, the building has been designed to give staff and students opportunities to meet, exchange ideas and disseminate their work in an ad-hoc, creative way, reflecting the clients’ belief that “thinking” and social spaces are as valuable as laboratories. A precise brief was developed with the client to incorporate predetermined equipment layouts and to optimize the use of space.
Co-ordination of complex services within restricted areas was a challenge and the practice’s experience with multi-disciplinary design co-ordination proved invaluable.
As part of its remit to facilitate innovative research, the building has been designed to give staff and students opportunities to meet, exchange ideas and disseminate their work in an ad-hoc, creative way, reflecting the clients’ belief that “thinking” and social spaces are as valuable as laboratories. A precise brief was developed with the client to incorporate predetermined equipment layouts and to optimize the use of space.
Co-ordination of complex services within restricted areas was a challenge and the practice’s experience with multi-disciplinary design co-ordination proved invaluable.
