Cranfield University is a British postgraduate university based on two campuses, with a research-oriented focus. The main campus is at Cranfield, Bedfordshire; and the other is at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire.
Centre for Design is designed to house a collaborative design research and study space for Cranfield and the University of the Arts London. McLaughlin won the project in July 2008 after beating four other practices in a design competition.
The brief for the design demanded a flexible and transparent design for a site lying adjacent to the local airfield, along with creating a landmark building. McLaughli responded to this brief by designing a timber-frame, timber-clad center and has introduced a new green space to the south-west.
Exhibition and lecture spaces are lined up from the entrance. Staff offices and tutorial rooms are arranged around the main studio, which can accommodate 30 students and researchers. Views of the airfield and green space are offered through two large glazed panels at the south-west and south-east. Additional natural light is enabled by a saw-tooth roof structure with north-facing glazed panels.
The Centre for Design project will be prefabricated off site to meet the project completion deadline of August 2010.
