Cambridge University Announces Preferred Architects for North West Cambridge Development

England's prestigious Cambridge University yesterday announced the team of preferred architects for a first phase of its proposed development at North West Cambridge. The architects were selected following an architectural competition and include established UK and international practices, as well as local and smaller, new practices.

The University, in conjunction with its advisor Colander, ran the competition early this year to identify architects for the first phase of the project which, subject to planning consent and the approval of the University’s Regent House, should start on site in mid-2013.

The University led development in this phase will comprise a number of building and landscape lots covering 141 hectares of land. The Lots contain a variety of residential units providing approximately 600 new homes for qualifying University staff, 300 units of post graduate accommodation, much of which will be let to colleges, a food store and other retail space, a primary school, a nursery, a range of other community facilities and landscaping.

Architects have still to be selected for two further lots of University residential accommodation, as well as for the primary school.

The preferred architects for the initial phase are:

• Lot 1: Wilkinson Eyre Architects and Mole Architects (London)
• Lot 2: David Chipperfield Architects (London)
• Lot 3: Mecanoo (Netherlands)
• Lot 4: Cottrell & Vermeulen Architecture, Sarah Wigglesworth Architects and AOC (London)
• Lot 5: RH Partnership (Cambridge)
• Lot 7: MUMA (London)
• Lot A: AECOM (London)
• Lot B: Townshend Landscape Architects (London)

The appointments are subject to agreement on final terms and conditions.

Roger Taylor, the Project Director said: “We were greatly impressed by the caliber of the many submissions received. It was therefore a real challenge to identify the preferred practices, a process in which we were greatly assisted by our diverse and expert selection panel.  We are confident that they have helped us to identify a strong and highly talented design team that will work well together in meeting the University’s aspirations for a sustainable development of high design quality.”

Gavin Heaphy, Construction Director said: “All of our selected architects have shown complete commitment to the University’s vision for a high quality, sustainable development.  By working closely together, we will design an outstanding scheme, in which all homes will be developed to Code Level 5.  This commitment, combined with the diversity of the architects we have selected, will ensure that we will create a community of which all of Cambridge can be proud."