One Elmwood, Queen's University

One Elmwood is a £41.8 million student centre at Queen’s University Belfast. The four-storey, 11,000m2 hub was designed by studios Hawkins/Brown and RPP Architects and sits at the centre of the University’s campus.

The building houses the student’s union, support services and non-faculty services. A unique space was also designed with the local community in mind. Visitors can benefit from office and co-working areas, event spaces as well as various lounges and bars situated around the building.

Cladding Design

Hawkins/Brown designed the façade to mirror adjacent buildings which include Whitla, The Lanyon and Elmwood Hall, bringing the old and new together.

The complex design was required a bespoke solution. Using advanced digital technology, Spanwall created a sinusoidal system which is a corrugated profile in zinc.

State-of-the-art manufacturing technology enabled Spanwall to manufacture the system with highly accurate circular perforations.

The perforated cladding panels had an anodised finish, which gives the building envelope a more reflective surface. As the light hits the façade, this creates colour.

Spanwall worked collaboratively with the design team to deliver the envelope system façade system in both form and function.

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