‘Heart of the Campus’, Sheffield Hallam University Collegiate Campus

14th May 2014

I made a site visit to the Heart of the Campus building along with Andrew Illingworth, Interior Designer for HLM Architects & Garry Farmer, Project Manager for Graham Construction, the main contractors on the project. Seen from Collegiate Crescent, the building is just visible behind the mature Beech trees.

Heart of the Campus building, just appearing behind the Beech trees on Collegiate Crescent.

East Elevation stonework looking incredibly sharp in the sunlight.

I have been commissioned to extend the original brief for a cnc routed Rockpanel rainscreen on the West Elevation to include digitally printed vinyl manifestations for the East Elevation glazed curtain wall and interiors. This was an incredibly useful visit as the building has really moved forward since my last time here in January this year.

The interior atrium is three storeys high and filled with light. It is a dynamic architectural space which has as a centrepiece, a cantilevered cube projecting out from the first floor. When sunlight floods in via the fully glazed atrium roof, the whole building is suffused with light and shadows.

The interior atrium space is dynamic and light filled. — The interior atrium space is dynamic and light filled

A cantilevered cube meeting space project out into the atrium from the first floor. — A cantilevered cube meeting space project out into the atrium from the first floor me

This is the view from inside the first floor cantilevered cube. — This is the view from inside the first floor cantilevered cube room.

The atrium roof is fully glazed and when a break in the clouds fills the space with light and shadows, the effect is pretty wonderful.

The interior of the main East Entrance to the building is a double height glazed curtain wall. This is an amazing site for the artwork manifestation.

This is a part of the external East Elevation entrance, with the double height glazed curtain wall.

Whilst on site I couldn’t resist a quick look at the West Elevation Rockpanel ‘drawing’. This artwork is cnc routed into the rain screen panels & was manufactured by The Cutting Room in Huntingdon. The exposed base material, almost a bright yellow colour when first exposed, darkens in contact with sunlight and has now achieved its permanent shade. This is more subtle then when first installed, & has now blended in with its architectural setting. Up close, the detail is crisp and casts strong shadows on a sunny day.

West Elevation cnc 'drawing' on the Rockpanel rain screen. — West Elevation cnc ‘drawing’ on the Rockpanel rain screen.

Cnc Rockpanel 'drawing' up close, which reveals the finer detailing and shadows cast. — Cnc Rockpanel ‘drawing’ up close, which reveals the finer detailing and shadows cast.

Detail: cnc routed Rockpanel 'drawing', up close. — Detail: cnc routed Rockpanel ‘drawing’, up close.

Draft designs for the glazing manifestation.

The first drafts for the glazing manifestations were produced in January this year and use the same iconography as the West Elevation cnc work. The manifestations however, being digitally printed, have no need for hard edges and manageable cutting paths. The designs will work with transparency and light to achieve their results. Digital printing further allows for a range of softer and finer details to be introduced. This is what I am currently working on. The manifestations serve a distinct purpose and have to comply with building regulations. Beyond that, the artwork can develop in many original ways to drift through the building.

Christopher Tipping | Visual Artist

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