review New Teaching and Learning Building for Newcastle University GSS 42 Newcastle University s Faculty of Medical Sciences is in the process of diversifying its undergraduate provision and increasing student numbers for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes. As part of this ongoing process, GSSArchitecture have been appointed to design a shared teaching and learning facility to include specialist spaces and staff offices for the Schools of Psychology and Sport, Exercise and Nutritional Sciences. The new open access building is to be located on Plot 4, adjacent to the Sports Hall and the new Park View Student Residences and close to the main Medical School. The innovative building will provide functional and flexible facilities for teaching and learning, and has been designed to facilitate integrated research by promoting collaboration between disciplines through shared encounter spaces and the provision of breakout areas. This approach will support the development of cross-disciplinary research and teaching, integrating both the physical and psychological aspects of exercise in relation to health and performance. The facility will become a hub for a wide range of students who occupy the surrounding buildings, including the Sports Hall and various student residences, in addition to meeting the needs of the expanding Faculty of Medical Sciences. Construction work will commence in September 2018 and is due to be completed before Christmas 2019.
From the Editor It is with great pride that I hand over a successful practice and an incredibly talented team to the next generation. In 2008, along with the rest of our industry, we were hit with the worst financial crisis that the UK had seen since the First World War. These 10 years coincided with my time as Senior Partner and it gives me great pleasure to report that we not only weathered the storm but radically improved in all areas, such as management, administration, marketing, product design, cost control, and ICT. As the IMS Partner, I was also responsible for implementing the practice s Integrated Management System, a role that will now be undertaken by William Assheton. As I have said many times before, We are proud of our past, but excited by our future. The timeline of award-winning buildings within this newsletter is not a product of one individual but a coherent, hard-working and talented team, which it has been an honour to be a part of. Office Expansion for 3 Locations As part of GSSArchitecture s continued growth and sustainable expansion, the practice has recently moved the Central Milton Keynes Office, Newcastle Studio and Gloucester Studio to new, larger premises. The new Milton Keynes Office will facilitate the delivery of an increasing number of projects secured in the surrounding region, including an Innovation Centre for Moulton College and new commercial developments, as well as many of the practice s London schemes. The Newcastle Studio will remain located in Hoults Yard, a dynamic business village occupied by a number of businesses and creative firms, within a larger office, providing a stimulating environment in which GSS can continue to grow and thrive. The new Gloucester Studio will enable expansion of our South West project portfolio. Gloucester are currently working on a number of interesting projects, including a masterplan for Bath College and residences for both the University of Bristol and Oxford Brookes University. Tom Lyons said, We have enjoyed a range of recent design successes on some varied and exciting new projects which has allowed us to invest in new staff and commit to moving to larger offices. An increased presence in these three regions will enhance the service that GSS can provide by allowing for growth and diversification across all sectors, as well as building upon established client relationships and forging new connections. 20 years of Investors in People I leave the practice in safe hands and in good health, with many thanks to our numerous and loyal clients who have entrusted our teams to perform to the highest professional standards. However, everyone at GSSArchitecture knows I will miss them and my role in delivering cost effective, innovative, practical yet exemplary Architecture. In 1983 we had one office serving Northamptonshire, we now operate out of five offices, embracing the whole of the UK. Tom Lyons as Senior Partner and Ian Bray as Managing Partner are supported by a well-balanced team with all the right skills to allow our practice to continue to flourish. David Allsop GSSArchitecture recently celebrated 20 years of Investors in People accreditation, as well as being awarded the accolade of Silver Level status. GSS originally gained recognition in 1997, being one of the first architectural practices in the UK to achieve this award. The practice has since been re-assessed every three years to prove ongoing compliance with the standard. GSS partner William Assheton explained: The Investors in People standard helps to link people development and skills acquisition to the specific aims and objectives of a business. By assessing and improving the performance of employees, Investors in People provides a framework to help businesses manage change and enhance success. The certification forms part of the practice s Integrated Management System (IMS), which includes Quality Management, Environmental Management, Health and Safety Management, and the recently achieved Cyber Essentials PLUS certification.
35 atgss years The Practice Wishes David Allsop Bon Voyage David Allsop, who originally joined GSS in 1983 as a Chartered Architect and became a Partner in 1985, is all set to retire from the practice at the end of June, although he will continue to be closely involved with one or two key accounts on a consultancy basis. Serving as Senior Partner from 2008 until 2018, David s knowledge and expertise have been invaluable to GSS s many clients in the school, further education and higher education sectors, and he has been extensively involved in partnering and framework arrangements with a number of major clients, particularly in the tertiary education sector. The Restaurant at the University of Northampton won the Civic Trust Award in 1995 His experience has resulted in a track record of delivering innovative and award-winning landmark buildings against tight budgets and timescales, particularly in areas which have known planning sensitivities, such as the historic cities of Durham, Oxford and Ely. Cranfield School of Management, 2007 David has also designed a number of significant flagship buildings in Northamptonshire. These projects include the masterplan of the University of Northampton, where David was the Retained Architect for many years. David is actively involved in the RIBA and has served as a member of the National Council. He is a past Chairman of East Midlands RIBA and was also a former President of Northamptonshire Society of Architects. The design of the restaurant, situated in the heart of the campus, won a national Civic Trust Award, while a model of the building was displayed at the Royal Academy s Summer Exhibition in 1994. Oakham School Library, 1994
Boughton House Stable Block Northamptonshire Richard Hamilton Building Oxford Brookes University The Roadmender Northampton 1999 2004 1996 1997 1983 1994 Restaurant Model Exhibited at Royal Academy Summer Exhibition Leather Conservation Centre University of Northampton Laxton Junior School Oundle
Indoor Cricket School Northants Cricket Business School Durham University Old Bishop s Palace King s Ely 2013 2012 2008 2018 2012 2011 Newton Building University of Northampton Sports Centre Stamford School New Boarding House Rugby School
The Durham Business School won Best Educational Building at the LABC Building Excellence Awards in 2014 Central Festival Opera, Derngate Northampton, 2002 Other projects at the University of Northampton include the Leather Conservation Centre, Cottesbrooke Building, Senate Building and the refurbishment and remodelling of the Grade II listed Newton Building. Further examples of David s projects around the county include Northamptonshire County Cricket Club s Indoor Cricket School, Laxton Junior School, the Roadmender, Brooke Weston Academy s New Library and The Masque Theatre at Latimer School. We are all very grateful for the immense contribution that David has made not just to the practice but to local business over the past 35 years. The last 10 to 15 in particular have been very successful, when GSS has had a period of sustained a n d c o n t r o l l e d g r o w t h. Tom Lyons The latest projects David has designed include Durham University s new Business School, which won Best Educational Building at the 2014 LABC Building Excellence Awards, a new boarding house for Rugby School, which is due to be completed later this year, as well as many projects for universities at Oxford, Leicester, Reading and Cranfield. David has implemented our Integrated Management System, which includes Quality Management ISO 9001:2015, Environmental Management ISO 14001:2015, Occupational Health and Safety Management BS 18001:2007 and Cyber Essentials PLUS, together with ensuring GDPR compliance. Staff Christmas Party, 2015 The team at GSS, which has grown to more than 60 in recent years within five offices across the UK, wish David all the best for his retirement, with his wife, Judy, and their sons Matthew and Christopher, and our door will always be open for him. Staff Summer Event, 2015 Like all successful businesses, GSS continually looks to the future, and we have been planning for David s departure for the past few years. We have ensured that the right management structure is in place to continue to serve our clients needs. David has been highly valued as Senior Partner, always showing a commitment to ensuring staff perform to their best ability and that all projects are designed and completed to meet our clients expectations. During June, staff and clients will have the opportunity to join David to celebrate his outstanding contribution to GSSArchitecture, before wishing him a final bon voyage on his next journey. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 35 years at GSSArchitecture and have had the opportunity to work on many projects with terrific clients and of course a great team. The practice has developed substantially over this period, having been founded in 1879 by John Alfred Gotch; GSS is now a national practice working throughout the country. David Allsop The relaunch of the GSSArchitecture website, Autumn 2008 David and a group of work experience students, 1997
University of Hull Framework The University of Hull is currently undergoing a 200m campus-wide redevelopment to dramatically improve buildings and facilities, following a commitment to provide top-class services and an ideal environment for its 16,000 students and 2,500 employees. GSSArchitecture have been selected by the university as one of three key supply chain partners on their Professional Consultancy Services Framework. This major strategic exercise is set to identify future needs and demands in order to understand the size and shape of the university going forward. We are delighted to have been allocated the first phase of their capital development plan, which includes the refurbishment of the Leven Building, which is a 3 storey 1960 s building, and the refurbishment of the Derwent Building to house the Faculty of Business, Law and Politics. Sunderland Student Gateways Having developed the city-wide campus masterplan for the University of Sunderland, GSSArchitecture have been appointed to design two projects that will enhance the current Student Gateways at City Campus and St. Peter s Campus, aimed at realigning and improving the Gateway service across the university. The main objective for the Student Gateways is to provide a one stop shop where students can access guidance and advice. This includes student support, careers and informal study areas, with a focus on the university s careers employability service, Sunderland Futures. The St. Peter s Campus Gateway will be delivered first and the design concept has been developed based around modern principles of Nordic architecture. The use of timber, natural materials and pastel colours have been included within the design to create a modern, yet calming and welcoming environment. 22m Student Accommodation in Bristol GSSArchitecture have been appointed on a 22m new build student accommodation scheme in Bristol City Centre. Working with F3G, GSS will provide architectural services for the 9 storey project, which is set to provide 357 student bedspaces, designed specifically to support the University of Bristol. The project sits in the Redcliffe Development Quarter of Bristol and forms an important part of the exciting regeneration of this area. The demolition of an existing office block will facilitate the delivery of the new student accommodation, which will comprise a mix of cluster flats and studios, student social areas, a dedicated courtyard, commercial space, laundry and games area. The building will be one of the very first in Bristol to connect to the Council-run district heating network, ensuring delivery of a new low-carbon building that forms the first stage of transforming Bristol into a carbon-neutral city by 2050.
New Developments at Durham University GSSArchitecture have been working with Durham University for over 15 years and in recent months have been providing services for a series of exciting new projects. As a top Russell Group university, all new Durham developments must deliver world-class facilities to support Education, Student Experience, Research and Engagement. Following on from the successful completion of the new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), the GSS team have been working on a new build performance space, gym, common room and social/study spaces for Collingwood College. The aforementioned facilities will be housed within the Bayley Room, which has been designed to provide a large and flexible space to cater for a multitude of college functions, including formal performances, live music and cinema screenings. GSS have also won a recent bid to act as Architects and Lead Consultants for the provision of a 21m teaching and learning building for the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the Department of Computer Science, working with Sir Robert McAlpine as the main contractor. The objective of this project is to house teaching accommodation of various types, including lecture theatres, seminar rooms, offices, research labs, social/breakout spaces and student learning zones. These developments form part of a robust campus masterplan that takes account of both opportunities and constraints and is aimed at improving the student experience at this vibrant and well-respected university. News in Brief GSSArchitecture have been commissioned by the University of Oxford to provide lead design, architectural and consultancy services to upgrade their catering and dining facilities and other associated accommodation within Corpus Christi College. The College was founded in 1517 and today remains a close-knit, welcoming college, committed to the pursuit of academic excellence. St. Mary s University, Twickenham, have appointed GSSArchitecture to be part of their Professional Consultancy Services Framework for Estates, Facilities and Construction Projects. GSSArchitecture are pleased to be involved with the university s plans to upgrade many of their facilities to provide a modern, forwardlooking campus for both students and staff. The University of Leeds have recently opened a 23m development to house their Faculty of Engineering, forming part of a 520m transformation programme at the university. Grouping together five teaching and research schools, the faculty is now one of the largest in the UK. GSSArchitecture acted as Architects and Lead Consultants for the project, having been appointed by Galliford Try. Partners Offices Chartered Architects Quantity Surveyors Lead Consultant David Allsop BA DipArch RIBA William Assheton BA(Hons) BArch RIBA AABC Ian Bray BSc(Hons) MRICS Jonathan Hunter BA(Hons) ArchTech MCIAT MCIOB FFB Thomas Lyons BA DipArch DipAP RIBA Michael Magri BA(Hons) DipArch RIBA Anna McTaggart MA MArch DipArch RIBA Practice Administrator Mary Lally BA(Hons) FInstAM Associates Ben Asbury BA(Hons) MArch PGDip RIBA Chris Chapman MCIAT Tom Jagger BArch MArch PGDip RIBA Simon Rennison-Rae BA(Hons) DipArch RIBA Paul Vega BSc(Hons) CEnv FCIOB 35 Headlands Kettering Northamptonshire NN15 7ES T: 01536 513 165 North Warehouse Gloucester Docks Gloucester GL1 2EP T: 01452 525 019 Hoults Yard Walker Road Newcastle NE6 2HL T: 0191 389 8917 The Tower Studio Fourth Avenue, Hornbeam Park Harrogate HG2 8QT T: 01423 815 121 Studio B/2 314 Witan Gate West Central Milton Keynes MK9 1EJ T: 01908 010 030 www.gssarchitecture.com gss@gotch.co.uk @gssarchitecture Published: May 2018