Elevating the seating opportunities at Brunel University

The Project

Brunel University is renowned for its innovation: it’s the number one most international university in the UK, and located in a beautiful building that showcases organic curves, shapes, and glass. Greenery surrounds the University on all sides, giving the students who choose to live in the accommodation a beautiful view to enjoy, especially in spring when wildflowers bloom. 

Universities are miniature societies. Like miniature societies, Brunel University needed a space for the students to go when they weren’t in lectures, or in their dormitories; somewhere where they could linger over lunch, have time to reflect on their thoughts, and get into a friendly debate. 

We were approached by Ireland Albrecht, London-based Landscape Architects, as part of the RIBA Stage 2 (Concept Design) in 2022. In 2023, working with Blakedown Landscapes, we delivered what they wanted: a better place for students to sit.

Project Solution

Railroad is a multifaceted furniture range. Implemented in modern areas, the timber and the metal accents add a touch of elegance to its surroundings. When implemented in a campus that already has plenty of greenery to focus on, Railroad’s timber blends into the background, providing a good place to sit and watch the birds in their nesting boxes and marshall your thoughts, but without standing out. The curved and straight lines of Railroad allowed us to get very detailed about the configurations we could use, providing seating opportunities both within the heart of the conversation, and on the outskirts. 

Ireland Albrecht, the landscape architect for Brunel University, was already familiar with our products, which made it far simpler for us to narrow down which of the lines would fit in best. Railroad, and its modularity, was the perfect fit for a campus that thrives on challenges and breaking the mould. 

Outcome

Even in the depths of winter, there is green at Brunel University. With our new seating installed, students can take shelter from the wind amongst the boughs of trees, and watch the seasons change as they ponder the next big innovation. More importantly, the seats have created a sense of well-being on campus, fostering an environment of support and acceptance within the often-hectic lives that students lead.