Newcastle University’s new £30m learning and teaching centre, the Frederick Douglass Centre, is located in Newcastle Helix, a 24-acre hybrid city quarter in the centre of the city which brings together academia, the public sector, communities and business.

Named after the 19^th century social reformer who was associated with the area, the building uses Schüco systems to help achieve its unusual shape, inspired by its location on Oystershell Lane.

The building is designed as a sweeping curve which visually connects the two adjacent public spaces. This curve forms the ‘Learning Arc’, which contains the teaching block, positioned around a triangular form incorporating an auditorium with the capacity to hold 750 people.

The exterior of the Learning Arc comprises alternating perforated panels which allow for natural ventilation and more solid elements of back-painted glass. Vertical window panels constructed using the Schüco FWS 60 SG structural glazing system are integrated into the façade. Although some windows in teaching spaces and offices open, this does not interfere with the external rhythm of the building.

The angular section of the building which houses the auditorium is clad in a mesh geometric veil. This was inspired by the work of Newcastle-born academic, Lewis Fry Richardson, who pioneered modern methods of weather forecasting by subdividing the globe into zones using hexagons, a shape echoed by the architect in the mesh design.

The veil interfaces a double-height reading room positioned at the corner of the building, thereby providing sun shading. This double-height space and the building’s ground floor entrance are constructed using Schüco FWS 50 curtain walling.

The curved teaching space and the auditorium block are connected by a curved segment known as ‘The Link’ which runs through each floor of the building. This linking component features Schüco FWS 50 curtain walling both in the construction of the walls and horizontally in the roof skylights to let natural light into the centre of the building. The Link also acts as an important device to separate the two geometrically opposed buildings.

Jonathan Davis, Associate for Sheppard Robson Architects, explains why Schüco was used in the project: “We have a very good ongoing relationship with Schüco and often speak to the company early on in our projects to get its advice and this was no exception.

“We incorporate Schüco systems often in our designs because we recognise the company is a market leader. It supplies good-quality, innovative products and the technical support it provides is invaluable.

“Schüco has many different, exciting systems for us to choose from, but for education projects like this budget is key. We were expected to use standard products but in an innovative way.

“In this instance we selected the Schüco FWS 50 system which we regard as the ‘go to’ curtain wall and have used many times before. This building has some interesting layering which disguises the fact that we used tried-and-tested materials including the popular Schüco curtain wall system, but in an intelligent way.”

The design and installation of the façade of the Frederick Douglass Centre was handled by Dane Architectural Systems.

David Hardie, Contracts Director – Façades at Dane Architectural, says, “The building’s geometry is in the shape of a wedge of cheese, which made interfaces complicated, with the main curtain wall stepping in and out at different dimensions and differing heights around the curve.

“Large hexagonal open mesh panels cantilever out from the façade on specially designed nodes which are connected to the cladding and the curtain wall frames. We worked closely with Schüco on the curtain wall design which had to overcome large differential movements due to the design of the structure.

“We welcomed the support Schüco provided with this project and look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with the company.”

An important part of the architect’s brief was that the building and surrounding landscaping were inherently sustainable and the design aimed to achieve BREEAM Very Good.

Jonathan explains, “The Frederick Douglass Centre achieved BREEAM Excellent, exceeding our target in terms of glazing performance and insulation which was devised from thermal modelling taken in the early design stages. The design acknowledged the sustainability strategy from an early stage, with glazing being restricted to the north-facing façades to reduce solar overheating and incorporate natural ventilation.”

Located in one of the largest urban regeneration schemes of its kind in the UK, the Frederick Douglass Centre was officially opened at the end of 2019, and celebrated with a programme of events themed around social justice in honour of the building’s namesake.