Ravensbourne College

  • RBA Client Foreign Office Architects
  • ContractorBovis Lend Lease
  • ArchitectForeign Office Architects
  • Project Value£70 million
  • Start DateSpring 2007
  • Completion DateAutumn 2010

With an aim to deliver education to meet the shifting demands of 21st century learners Ravensbourne, a university sector college innovating in digital media and design, opened its new building to students in Autumn 2010.

Located opposite the O2 building on the Greenwich Peninsula, the building is split over 6 floors each having large floor plates and is based upon a transparent approach to education with the potential for numerous large groups to study simultaneously in an open plan area.  In addition to regular teaching spaces, the scheme also includes a large dedicated lecture theatre, television studio and numerous digital media and sound studios.

RBA Acoustics were appointed by Foreign Office Architects prior to the Stage C design works to provide input on all items related to acoustic issues.  Of particular concern was the requirement for large proportions of the teaching areas to be open plan whilst still proving appropriate for simultaneous use by up to 3 separate teaching groups.  In addition to this the acoustically sensitive television studio, associated control rooms and media studios required careful design in order to achieve good standards whilst maintaining compliance with the architects and client’s aesthetic vision. The location of the college also presented challenges in terms of controlling external noise from flights to and from London City Airport, the various activities within the 02 Arena and also groundborne vibration levels from the Jubilee Line that runs directly beneath the site.

The client requirement for open plan teaching areas combined with the low carbon nature of the building requiring an exposed concrete soffit meant that detailed analyses of the acoustic environment in these areas was required.  A number of differing options for the introduction of sufficient acoustic absorption to maximise the usability of these spaces were assessed in terms of acoustic performance, aesthetics and cost.

Ravensbourne college was opened in time for the 2010-2011 academic year. The building was shortlisted for the Public Building of the Year Category in the 2011 Building Magazine awards and is a winner in the RIBA Awards for London 2011.

Photos Morley Von Sternberg