The Richard Attenborough Centre, University of Leicester
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Specifically designed arts education centre with a focus on people with disabilities
The building is split into three differently constructed parts - the top lit, loadbearing masonry structure with an in-situ concrete floor for the rear block is separated from the front concrete and steel framed block by a glazed corridor.
Circulation is a simple H-pattern on each floor to make the building plan legible for blind users. Floor, wall and door finishes create tonal differences to aid the partially sighted.
At the heart of the centre is a double-height, sky-lit hall, flanked by two rehearsal spaces that all open into one and on the upper level can be enclosed or overlooked by galleries.
On the first floor are the library and fine art studios with exterior balconies.
Data
- Completed: Mar 1997
- Floor area: 1,025m2
- Sector: Education
- Total cost: £1.2M
- Address: Richard Attenborough centre, Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 7HA, United Kingdom
Professional Team
- Architect: Bennetts Associates, Ian Taylor
- Project architects: Brendan O'Neill, Colin Muir, David Henderson, Denise Bennetts, Ian Taylor, John Southall, Michael Cant, Rab Bennetts, Ray Keamy, Stephen Bates
- Client: University of Leicester
- Structural engineer: Curtins Consulting Engineers
- Services engineer: David Beattie
- Acoustic consultant: Arup Acoustics
- Quantity surveyor: Michael Latham Associates
- Main contractor: John Laing Construction