Engineering Forum, University of Edinburgh

The new Engineering Forum is a major step forward in the University’s long-term vision for the development of the King's Buildings campus. It provides a new focal point at the West side of the campus and will play an increasingly important part of everyday life for many staff and students.

Appointed in April 2017 to review the existing School of Engineering masterplan, this assessment established a new masterplan, ‘Tetris’ concept, based on a developed schedule of accommodation and a phased decant strategy for the entire School of Engineering.

Specialist teaching spaces are provided amongst laboratories, social zones and a catering servery, all within a brick and glazed facade building, arranged in an L-shaped module. This is the first module as part of the masterplan and will initially operate as a stand-alone building until future phases are delivered, and has been designed to account for the connection to future modules.

The new 6500m2 building will facilitate learning and research into renewable energy, power systems and electronics. Accommodation includes a range of general and specialist teaching spaces, a computer teaching laboratory, and research laboratories. Offices for the Engineering Teaching Organisation office are located on the first floor. A mix of open plan and cellular office space is also provided on upper levels for researchers, post graduates and academics. The core facilities are supported by a variety of flexible meeting spaces, breakout areas and a welcoming ground floor café space.