Institute of Safe Autonomy

The Brief

A new build flagship research facility located on the University of York’s Campus East was required to provide workspace for researchers from across the University.

The Design

The central atrium within the main entrance and reception area reaches up the lower roof and upper roof (second floor) and provides natural light to the heart of the building and surrounding lab spaces and offices. Surrounding this open core is feature timber panelled walls, glazed screens and open corridors.

Providing an extremely air-tight, well insulated building with high exposed thermal mass and good control measures were among the most important sustainable design considerations; the building targeted low u-values of 0.1 for walls, floor and roof, with triple glazing and an airtightness of 0.3. A hybrid ventilation system provides open plan offices with natural ventilation with the use of openable windows and core ventilation stacks ensureing cross ventilation. Labs lare designed to be mechanically ventilated..

The robustness of the finishes was a key driver in the material selection to ensure the building would withstand any impacts from the robotics and reduce waste associated with replacement..

The Outcome

Securing acoustic performance across the building was a priority and a substantial provision of acoustic material was allowed for in the design based on BREEAM criteria.

The building comprises world class facilities including flexible open plan offices, 11 specialist labs, workshops, testing area, under water tank lab and roof top testing spacing.