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The architects were picked through an invited design competition led by Newcastle University with advice from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
Science Central is based on the former Scottish & Newcastle Brewery in Newcastle and is one of the UK’s largest city centre development sites. It is being developed by Newcastle Science City in conjunction with partners Newcastle University and Newcastle City Council.
The competition called for architect-led teams to design a distinct and recognisable building that would underpin the university’s theme of ‘digitally enabled urban sustainability environments’.
The 10,000m2 ‘living lab’ will be the first independent Newcastle University building on Science Central, and is expected to open at the beginning of the academic year in September 2017.
Professor Phil Taylor, director of the Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability at Newcastle University, said: “Our vision on Science Central is to provide a unique environment where internationally renowned engineers and scientists can work together with Newcastle City Council, industry, communities and emerging technologies, to find solutions to global urban sustainability challenges.
“The team at Hawkins\Brown demonstrated an excellent understanding of the brief to create something unique that would embody our commitment to sustainability and innovation by creating an environment that would be open, creative, inclusive and entrepreneurial.”
Enabling, infrastructure and public realm works are under way on the 24-acre Science Central site and construction of the first building, The Core, has already begun. Owned by Newcastle City Council, The Core is due to open this autumn.
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