Business School & Growth Hub, Gloucester

Completed in 2018, the University of Gloucestershire's Business School & Growth Hub is a landmark addition to the Oxstalls Campus in Gloucester. Delivered by Willmott Dixon with design by Austin-Smith:Lord LLP, the £16 million development consolidates business education, research, enterprise support and regional economic development into a single, highly collaborative environment.

Conceived as a signature gateway building, the new Business School showcases contemporary facade engineering, extensive daylighting, and a strong commitment to low-carbon, future-proof construction. High-performance aluminium building systems - manufactured and installed by Vision 2000 - play a critical role in achieving the project's architectural and environmental ambitions.

Architectural Vision: A transparent, connected hub for business and learning

The architectural team developed a compact, efficient three-storey form that maximises the prominent campus location. A triple-height atrium provides a dramatic, light-filled focal point, supporting visual connectivity between teaching, social and enterprise spaces. The building also integrates specialist teaching areas including the Thomson Reuters trading room, a moot courtroom, incubation suites and flexible collaboration zones.

To realise this open and interactive environment, the design relies on high-clarity glazing, slim facade sightlines and a combination of fixed, opening and large-scale glazed assemblies. These strategies support both contemporary aesthetics and enhanced user comfort through natural light and cross-ventilation.

Facade and Fenestration Strategy

Curtain Walling for Architectural Rhythm and Performance

The project features extensive use of aluminium curtain walling, providing a consistent facade language across ground, first, and second floors. Capped and toggle-fixed assemblies were selected to balance architectural expression with robust structural performance.

TECHNAL curtain walling used on this project is known for:

• High weather and wind resistance, exceeding regulatory requirements

• Modular design flexibility, enabling consistent sightlines across complex geometries

• Strong thermal performance and airtightness, supporting compliance with stringent UK Building Regulations

Solar-control glazing was integrated to manage heat gain, with different coatings selected for south/east/west elevations versus the north-facing facade. This balancing of daylight and thermal control enhances internal comfort and supports long-term energy efficiency.

Windows and Natural Ventilation

Clerestory windows crown each elevation, incorporating opening vents for natural ventilation - a key contributor to the building's BREEAM Excellent strategy. Additional windows at first and second floor levels were installed as coupled units using a structural mullion to support loads and accommodate external solar shading.

TECHNAL aluminium windows include features commonly associated with high-performance buildings including:

• Consistent thermal insulation across frame modules

• Multiple aesthetic configurations including visible, minimal and large-dimension frames

• Excellent acoustic and weather performance to support a variety of teaching and study environments

These characteristics align with the wider TECHNAL design philosophy of flexibility, comfort and seamless architectural integration.

Roof Glazing & Daylighting Strategy

The triple-height atrium is illuminated by four large rooflights - totalling 140 m² - designed to enhance transparency and reduce artificial lighting demand. The ability to engineer large glazed spans while maintaining structural integrity is a key attribute of TECHNAL's facade design principles, which prioritise modularity and high static performance.

Doors, Access & High-Traffic Performance

At ground level, multiple sets of manual and automatic doors provide compliant access to public-facing areas. Modern aluminium door systems designed for commercial and high-traffic environments typically deliver:

• Robust thermal, acoustic and security performance

• Versatile configurations including hinged, pivot, sliding and facade-integrated options

• PAS-24 aligned security, weather resistance and low-threshold accessibility provisions common with next-generation door systems

These attributes ensure long-term durability in an educational setting with high daily footfall.

Sustainability: Supporting a Low-Carbon Future

The Business School & Growth Hub building targets BREEAM Excellent, achieved through high insulation, wind ventilation, heat recovery and responsible material specifications. TECHNAL aluminium building systems significantly support this strategy due to:

• Hydro CIRCAL® 75R aluminium as standard for all UK products - made with at least 75% recycled post-consumer scrap, this high-quality aluminium reduces embodied carbon by 80% when compared with the average for aluminium produced in Europe

• Products that are 95% recyclable at the end of their lifecycle - supporting a circular construction model that retains aluminium within closed-loop building applications

• Responsible Sourcing - All aluminium used in TECHNAL systems is backed by rigorous governance, third-party certification, traceability and alignment with global sustainability standards

Collaboration & Delivery

Vision 2000, a TECHNAL partner, delivered the facade package and has long-established experience installing aluminium systems for major education, residential and commercial schemes across Wales and the South West. Their role allowed the architectural intent - slim profiles, large glazed areas, precise detailing - to be translated accurately into final construction.

Project Impact

The completed building strengthens the university's ambition to create a vibrant, business-connected campus. Its design promotes openness, collaboration and innovation, while its low-carbon facade solution supports the institution's long-term sustainability commitments.

Key outcomes include:

• 5,500 m² of high-quality teaching and enterprise space

• A new home for Business, Marketing, Law, Finance, HRM and enterprise support

• A landmark campus gateway building

• Long-life, low-energy facade systems supporting BREEAM Excellent certification

Conclusion

The University of Gloucestershire Business School & Growth Hub exemplifies how modern aluminium facade systems can deliver strong architectural identity, occupant comfort and long-term sustainability. Through carefully integrated curtain walling, windows, doors and roof glazing, the project achieves transparency, performance and durability - values central to TECHNAL's design ethos and supported with the brand's products.

For construction professionals seeking high-performance, low-carbon architectural aluminium systems, this project demonstrates what is achievable through collaboration, precision engineering, and circular material innovation.