Red steelwork frames a large multi-purpose atrium at the heart of the One Elmwood student hub at Queen's University Belfast, designed by studios HawkinsBrown and RPP Architects.
The 11,000-square-metre hub replaces a dilapidated building at the centre of the university's campus and consolidates all non-faculty facilities into one space, including the student union, lounges, bars and spaces for events and student societies.
Designed by HawkinsBrown and RPP Architects to be a "beacon for university life", One Elmwood is centred around a full-height atrium with red steelwork and a bleacher-style staircase, visible to the surrounding campus through a full-height glass curtain wall.
Red steelwork frames the One Elmwood hub at Queen's University Belfast "The centre has been designed as a simple, flexible container for a variety of different uses under one roof," said HawkinsBrown.
"The glazed exterior presents an open and transparent view of the building from the outset and the functions contained within, featuring a series of totem-like columns that can be used for signage without disturbing the facade behind," it continued.
One Elmwood's atrium is overlooked by the wood-clad volumes of the upper stories, which have been stacked and stepped to create terraces and intimate pockets of space.
One Elmwood is designed to be a "beacon for university life"
At the back of the building is the large Mandela Hall, which is designed to be used by bot...