Brighton and Hove-based building consultant MGAC has completed a teaching facility project in Brighton on behalf of the University of Brighton.
The £8 million redevelopment project modernised the existing building to provide a mix of offices and teaching spaces across four floors.
Major upgrades were undertaken including bespoke carpentry and a statement Hellerup staircase in the reception, seminar rooms, collaborative working areas and social spaces, as well as window replacements across the whole building.
In line with the University of Brighton’s commitment to ESG policy, the upgrades were also designed to increase thermal efficiency and security.
Jai Beyer, project manager at MGAC, said: “With sustainability and state-of-the-art facilities at the forefront, this exciting development represents a commitment to elevating standards of student life and creating a positive experience for all building users.
“The refurbishment vastly improved an existing educational environment with new heating and cooling services, fire safety systems and collaborative working areas including both technical and staff offices.
“The fit-out created a new school identity and our desire to create a space conducive to improved learning. We were in regular communication with the contractor and the building users to minimise disruption and deliver the project in time for the new term.’’
Mithras House benefitted from new double-glazed timber sash windows designed to match the originals. The building has also undergone a thermal imaging process to demonstrate the improvement in the building fabric’s performance.
An assessment report confirmed the windows have improved the performance of the building fabric and will improve the University’s carbon footprint.
Built-in 1939, Mithras House originally served as the administrative and design office for the Allen West Electrical Engineering Company.
In the 1970s, it was acquired by East Sussex County Council and eventually passed into the hands of the University of Brighton.
MGAC provided project management services to support the effective delivery of this complex retrofit programme, alongside the design team.
The project was recently highly commended at the Pagabo Awards and is a finalist in the Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards 2024 in the Regeneration and Retrofit category.
