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Devon, Exeter, University Of Exeter, Science Buildings
Faculty Building (20th Century)
Site Name Devon, Exeter, University Of Exeter, Science Buildings
Classification Faculty Building (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Exeter University, Physics Department, Chemistry Department, Newman Building, Lecture Block
Canmore ID 284731
Site Number SX99SW 1
NGR SX 9171 9416
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/284731
- Council Not Applicable
- Parish Not Applicable
- Former Region Not Applicable
- Former District Not Applicable
- Former County Not Applicable
Building Notes
In March 1958, Basil Spence and Partners accepted the commission to design a group of new science buildings for the University of Exeter at a total cost of £1.5m. They designed three separate buildings for the site which was located at one of the highest points on the University grounds. These included blocks for the Chemistry department (built 1961-65, cost £900,000) and Physics department (built 1964-67, cost £500,000) as well as a lecture block (built 1964-65, cost £155,000) containing shared teaching facilities. The latter was positioned at the centre of the group and was linked to the two other buildings by covered walkways. Its most prominent feature is the freestanding pentagonal auditorium, which is cantilevered over the building's entrance.
All three buildings were built using reinforced concrete construction and finished externally with brick and slate.
Archive Details and Summary
The Sir Basil Spence Archive holds two manuscript files for this project. A pamphlet amongst the material explains that Spence used the external treatment of the buildings to express the functions and sizes of the spaces within using tightly spaced vertical fins for smaller, enclosed rooms, and horizontal long windows for open plan laboratories.
The correspondence in the Archive also indicates that an early drawing by Spence showing the group of three science buildings was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1962. The design of the lecture theatre in this, however, was not what was ultimately built: due to financial restrictions, Spence was asked to completely redesign this block in 1963.
There are also 12 drawings for the project, which include sketch perspectives, plans, and elevations.
This text was written as one of the outputs of the Sir Basil Spence Archive Project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, 2005-08.
