Penryn Campus gateway reception building. This is the first impression when arriving on campus. The architecture needed to be striking and easy to describe.
The concept is a piece of copper ore, referencing Penryn’s history as a copper mining town, sat on a granite base. The form is curated to rise to a point facing due north and create a shadow that tracks like a sundial across the granite piazza. This point also rises between a clearing in the trees to form a clear landmark on arrival.
The building sits at the node between the student accommodation and the campus academic and social spaces. The internal space is organised to provide a reception space and a campus shop that servers everyone using the campus.
The building is constructed using a steel frame primary structure and insulated timber infill panels. Exposed structure in the shop was celebrated to minimise the materials in construction. Passive natural ventilation in the shop minimises the need for mechanical and electrical systems minimising the energy usage.
