UCLan seeks design team for next projects in £200m masterplan

University of Central Lancashire has launched a RIBA competition to find architects for its planned Student Support Centre and a new public square, as part of its £200m overhaul of its Preston campus.

UCLan is seeking expressions of interest from multi-disciplinary architect-led teams “with exceptional design skills to help improve the student experience and create an attractive and world class campus for the future of UCLan in line with the University’s status as one of the UK’s largest universities”.

RIBA said that an equal honorarium of £7,000 will be paid to each of the seven design teams shortlisted to participate in the tender and design concept phase of the competition.

The judging panel includes John Whiles from Jestico & Whiles, as the RIBA adviser.

UCLan’s £200m campus masterplan will be delivered in Preston over the next 10 years.

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UCLan is currently on site with the first major project in the programme, the demolition of the 1960s Fylde Building to make way for the multi-million pound student support facility, forming part of a new gateway to the University. It has also submitted a planning application for a £30m Engineering Innovation Centre.

UCLan Vice-Chancellor Professor Mike Thomas said: “Our vision for the new student support centre and new square is to create an inspiring campus gateway which will be of benefit to both students and the local community. We are looking for an imaginative design which really helps draw the City and University together like never before. We’ll also engage with the local community and key stakeholders to gauge their opinion on the proposed designs, as their input is critical to this process.”