Republic:
“an accidental campus”
Eleanor Newton, Partner, recently presented on behalf of Workman’s Welcome team as part of a panel discussion for the University Design Forum’s event, held at Republic in conjunction with Trilogy Real Estate.
Developed by Trilogy Real Estate, and managed by Workman, Republic is the London home of a number of universities from across the UK, including York St John, Anglia Ruskin and University of the West of Scotland.
But Republic was originally aimed at a different market. The super-sized retrofit aimed at offices, in the image of developments in Shoreditch, but well-priced and located nearer to Canary Wharf.
The design was focused on placemaking, wellbeing and resource efficiency, an update on traditional office buildings for new and emerging businesses.
The office occupiers, however, did not arrive in their droves. However, interest came from universities seeking a base in London. The design approach of Republic, with a combination of a quality campus environment, location and pricing made this an attractive place for universities.
Eleanor’s key takeaways from the discussion:
The retrofit journey: By incorporating mass timber, water gardens, and bold design elements, an “accidental campus” has been created — even though universities weren’t the original target.
Overcoming physical challenges: Repurposing buildings not designed for student use requires presented obstacles, particularly in terms of access, fire safety, and communications to be overcome. Through innovative solutions, we’ve made these spaces fully functional for their new purpose.
Efficient space management: Universities operate on seasonal occupancy patterns, so implementing smart technologies like IBOS has been critical. This has led to a 25% reduction in energy consumption on campus.
The value of co-locating: Shared spaces, like the common room, have been introduced to minimise the need for multiple breakout areas on individual university floors. Additionally, the Welcome team is leading efforts to implement the campus’s Net Zero asset plan, which will directly benefit the universities involved.
Thank you to Dominic Morgan for chairing the panel, Robert Wolstenholme of Trilogy, alongside Dickon Hayward of Material Works (architects) with Milena Obradovic from Trilogy, who each outlined the challenges and opportunities of running a multi-university campus.
Find out more about Republic.