Art House, Worcester

GWP designed and successfully delivered the regeneration of the 1938–39 Grade II listed building, Austin House, into a new Design & Art facility for The University of Worcester. The former Art Deco-style car showroom and garage was transformed to provide the following improvements:

External Improvements:

• Redesigned car parking area with 17 bays, including 4 accessible bays, and a bicycle parking area for 30 bicycles.

• New refuse/recycling area, plant beds, and soft landscaping.

• New level access to main entrance and exits.

• Extensive restoration of existing brick and stonework.

• Refurbishment of existing metal-framed Art Deco windows.

• New composite insulated metal roof cladding and insulated flat roofing with double-glazed rooflights.

• New aluminium double-glazed shopfront windows and doors.

• New main entrance canopy.

• New curved concrete wall and railings on the front elevation.

• CCTV and other site security measures.

Internal Remodelling & Improvements:

• Internal reconfiguration to create Art & Design learning studios, meeting rooms, breakout spaces, a tea room, offices, and toilet facilities.

• New circular feature ramp providing wheelchair access to the upper level within the main learning space.

• Infill extension to provide exhibition space on the front elevation.

• Infill extension to create fire escape and storage on the side elevation.

• New energy-efficient heating and lighting throughout.

• First-floor mechanical and electrical plant rooms, including a new rooftop acoustic plant enclosure.