Arup Building, University of Cambridge

The Arup building which is located on the new museums site in central Cambridge was designed by Phillip Dowson and completed in 1971. It currently accommodates the University Museum of Zoology and the Babbage lecture theatre together with laboratory and office space for the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy and Zoology. As a result of these two departments being relocated, Avanti were invited to offer proposals for the extensive refurbishment and remodelling of the building, with the aim of improving the setting of the museum and creating high quality workspace for the recently established Cambridge Conservation Initiative. Our solution is based on a long life – loose fit – low energy strategy to create sustainable office space with high daylight factor and ventilation. Improvements to the ground floor and existing podium provided much needed expansion space and a new ‘shop window’ for the museum.