Plans to refurbish a Grade II-listed 1970s building at Reading University have been submitted to Wokingham Borough Council.
The URS building, known as the ‘Lego building’ at the Whiteknights campus, was designed by Howell, Killick, Partridge and Amis and was originally the home of the faculty of Urban and Regional Studies.
It has only been partially occupied in recent years but the proposed refurbishment would bring it back into full use as the new home for the School of the Built Environment. The refurbishment project is scheduled for completion in 2028.
The university’s estates team worked with architects Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt and heritage consultant Purcell to propose the scheme of internal and external upgrades that retain the original materials and structure of the URS building.
The proposal includes increased capacity, spaces which support current teaching practices, improved accessibility and improved energy efficiency.
Two additional staircases will be introduced on the south and east sides of the building which will meet fire escape requirements.
Pre-planning consultation has taken place with both the 20th Century Society and council planning and heritage officers.
Andrew Casselden, director of estates for the university, said: “The URS building is an iconic feature of our Whiteknights campus. This investment will vastly improve the experience of staff and students who use it and transform the building into a focal point of teaching and study on campus.
“We know that the URS building is loved by our staff, students and many local residents so we have worked with design and heritage experts to put forward a plan that respects the original architecture of the building, while introducing new elements that bring it up to date.”
Two relevant planning applications are at: https://planning.wokingham.gov.uk/FastWebPL/detail.asp?AltRef=243127&ApplicationNumber=243127&AddressPrefix=&Postcode=&KeywordSearch=&Submit=Search
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