Three Stirling Prize winners are among those named on a shortlist decided by Kingston University to design a new £22 million building near Knights Park campus.
Grafton Architects, who won the 2021 award for the University’s Town House, Haworth Tompkins and Caruso St John Architects are joined on the list by Carmody Groarke, Hall McKnight and Reiach and Hall.
Vice-Chancellor Steven Spier said the chosen practice will help to “realise our aspiration to create a building that will benefit generations of students, staff and the wider borough community.”
The Middle Mill project is to build a 5,000m2, four storey studio block to benefit students within the Kingston School of Art faculty.
In addition, there will be a 200-seat lecture theatre, dining space, studios boasting “enhanced acoustic performance”, a faith and spirituality facility and staff offices.
Photo: Dennis Gilbert
Spier said: “At Kingston University, we firmly believe that world-class architectural design helps drive educational quality and innovation.”
He said the project shows Kingston University’s “commitment to embedding creativity, innovation and future skills at the heart of our student’s education.”
There are plans to improve the landscape at Middle Mill to recognise the close proximity of the Hogsmill River and its link with Knights Park, which would cost £1.5 million.
The practices must now outline their vision and the winner will be announced in early 2023.
Work on the building is planned to commence in late 2026 and to be completed by September 2029 in time for the start of that academic year.
Balsam Maki
Dharmi Dave
Alex Bennett