Interior Design Policy
Valid from May 2009

Contents

Building identity: What is the designer’s vision for our campus? 1

New Direction; New Image; New Edge 2

What does our Interior Design image consist of? 3

What are the core principles of this Policy? 4

Who is this Policy aimed at? 5

What do we want to Achieve? 6

Roles and Responsibilities 7

Innovative Ideas: 8

Miscellaneous Design Features… 8

Interior Strategy: 9

Neutral and restricted backdrops of finishes.... 9

How do we achieve a neutral backdrop? 10

Interior Design Brief 11

Mood Board 12

Generic Issues: 13

Reception Areas 13

Reception Design 14

Reception Area Core Colours 15

Reception Area Core Finishes 15

Reception Desks 16

Reception Lighting 16

Reception Furniture 16

Corridors 17

The Royal College Building 18

Teaching and Learning Spaces 19

Completed Teaching Space Examples 21

Washrooms 24

Furniture 24

Ceilings / Lighting 25

Flooring 26

Ironmongery 26

Building Examples 27

A completed project: The Law School in the Lord Hope Building 27

Work in progress: The Livingstone Tower 29

Making the Difference: Feature Elements 30

Summary 31

Our Interior Design Policy is intended to: 31

Appendix 1 – Roles and Responsibilities 32

Appendix 2 – Building Identity Colours 35

Appendix 3 – Example Specification Board 38

Contents

Figure 1 Graham Hills: Backlit image in foyer of the 50 George Street entrance 1

Figure 2 Graham Hills: 50 George Street Entrance 2

Figure 3 Java Cafe 4

Figure 4 James Weir: M328 4

Figure 5 Graham Hills: 50 George Street Entrance 4

Figure 6 Feature Furniture 6

Figure 7 Sir William Duncan: The Java Café 8

Figure 8 McCance: Glass coloured stools in the third floor social space. 8

Figure 9 Lord Hope: The Law School shows how colourful a neutral backdrop can be 9

Figure 10 James Weir: A neutral backdrop in M328 10

Figure 11 Thomas Graham: Entrance Foyer 13

Figure 12 Graham Hills: 50 George Street entrance foyer 14

Figure 13 Royal College: Images of the corridors showing a neutral palette with beige, light stone, dark grey and green as one of the dominant colours 18

Figure 14 A consistent suite of furniture design 19

Figure 15 The same chair in different options 20

Figure 16 James Weir building: DMEM CAD/CAM Suite 21

Figure 17 Livingstone Tower: Computer and Information Sciences 22

Figure 18 Sir William Duncan: Student Resource Centre 23

Figure 19 James Weir: Research Suite 23

Figure 20 James Weir: Institute of Advanced Studies 23

Figure 21 Ramshorn Theatre: Bespoke lighting feature 25

Figure 22 Lord Hope: Law School Feature Lighting 25

Figure 23 Lord Hope: Law School feature wall 27

Figure 24 Lord Hope: Law School meeting room 27

Figure 25 Lord Hope: Law School floor plan showing application of colour 28

Figure 26 Lord Hope: Law School entrance corridor 28

Figure 27 Feature Elements (Screens, artwork, graphics) 30

Figure 28 John Anderson Campus: Site plan indicating numbered buildings 35

Figure 29 Example of specification board layout 38

Introduction

Building identity: What is the designer’s vision for our campus?

Figure 1 Graham Hills: Backlit image in foyer of the 50 George Street entrance

12

Introduction

New Direction; New Image; New Edge

12

Introduction

We are restructuring the campus and aim to create a new focus for our campus interior design to one where we simplify materials and innovate with a consistent and sustainable approach.
The University has already developed a clear brand for its communications and use of its logo and crest etc. Details of this work can be found at http://www.strath.ac.uk/brand.
This interior design policy has been developed to ensure the appropriate development and use of a University of Strathclyde interior design style and to focus the visual identity of the campus.
This policy draws together a series of core standards to ensure that completed projects demonstrate a consistent look and feel in all our interiors. This ‘house style’ has been designed to appeal to students, staff and visitors alike. /

Figure 2 Graham Hills: 50 George Street Entrance

What does our Interior Design image consist of?

·  Neutral and restricted backdrop of finishes
·  Blocks of colour
·  Simple distinctive feature walls in stone, wood and recyclable plastic cladding
·  Graphic imagery and usable walls
·  Flexible furniture and colourful feature furniture / ·  Feature lighting
·  Timber boxes and fabric holes
·  Advanced audio – visual
·  Focused social spaces
·  Visible Historical connections
·  An International University with worldwide links
·  Corporate front entrances/receptions

Timber walls Slate Floors Blocks of colour

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Introduction

What are the core principles of this Policy?

Our aim is to invest in excellence as indicated by our Strategic Plan which can be found at http://www.strath.ac.uk/strategicplan and all of our interiors must reflect the aspirations of the plan;
·  To be a place where only the best work and study
·  To be internationally recognised for our research
·  To offer a high-quality student experience, responsive to individual students’ needs, in an estate that is fit for purpose /
Figure 3 Java Cafe
Figure 4 James Weir: M328
Figure 5 Graham Hills: 50 George Street Entrance

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Introduction

Who is this Policy aimed at?

Consultants and designers engaged by the University should take account of this policy when designing and detailing projects. To respond to the excellence agenda we are looking for a project by project response to this policy that shows:
·  Flair and imagination which strengthens our visual image
·  A simplified approach which ensures visual consistency within buildings but with distinctive design features in key areas
·  A design formula for each individual building which creates a clear source directory of finishes and materials for subsequent projects in the same building
·  Cost effective, practical and sustainable solutions
·  Modern in outlook / This policy is part of our new approach and provides clear corporate interior design direction with a strong vision and emphasis on detail. In this context it should be clearly understood that the University of Strathclyde is not a canvas to demonstrate consultants or designer’s individual or house approach and that this policy will be rigorously pursued in all projects. Failure to achieve this due to poor execution or a lack of care and attention in individual projects will mean the image of the University will suffer and this will not be acceptable.

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Introduction

What do we want to Achieve?

·  Consolidation of our existing Campus spaces – creating more flexible, multi-purpose areas.
·  New ways of working – supporting a good quality and sustainable working environment with appropriate furniture/fixings and a focus on feature details.
·  Empowering Visitors, Students and Staff by providing spaces for teaching, learning and studying that meet their expectations and requirements for research, technology, socialising and collaboration. /
Figure 6 Feature Furniture

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Roles and Responsibilities

Roles and Responsibilities

This section should be read in conjunction with the roles and responsibilities section of the Space Management policy www.strath.ac.uk/estates/space. The general principles outlined in the Space Management policy still apply but this Interior Design policy further clarifies the specific role of the University of Strathclyde’s Interior Designer in each project. The process for advising Estates Management of potential new or refurbishment projects and possible sources of funding is also covered in the / Space Management policy and is not replicated here.
The process mapped in Appendix 1 starts from the Assistant Director’s receipt of a project request from a Department or Faculty, either in the form of a Statement of Need or as a Case for Investment.
Throughout each process the Space Planning Manager can act on behalf of the Assistant Director in her absence.

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Innovative Ideas

Innovative Ideas:

Miscellaneous Design Features…

Cafes, Postgraduate & Social spaces are to have lots of interesting features and colour applied.

Figure 7 Sir William Duncan: The Java Café / Figure 8 McCance: Glass coloured stools in the third floor social space.

General Notes:

1.  Colour specification: When specifying colour designers must adhere by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), relevant Building regulations, approved Document M and BS8300:2001. These documents advise that any colours used to differentiate surfaces should vary in LRV (light Reflectance Value) by at least 30 points.

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Interior Strategy

Interior Strategy:

Neutral and restricted backdrops of finishes....

To create a unified look throughout the campus we will first of all create a neutral backdrop to which feature elements can be added. The Interior Design Strategy will be realised as this combination of neutral background and feature elements is rolled out on a building by building and project by project basis across the campus.

Figure 9 Lord Hope: The Law School shows how colourful a neutral backdrop can be

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Interior Strategy

How do we achieve a neutral backdrop?

Design teams should use a restricted contemporary colour palette in each building project with:
·  A basic Neutral Colour Palette consisting of whites, greys, browns and beiges (including natural timber and exposed concrete).
·  Building Identify Colours – the building identity colours (Appendix 2) will be added to a neutral colour palette and will be the two dominate colours in each building. The hues of these colours should stay the same but the shades can vary. These colours should continually feature throughout the building’s circulation spaces on the walls, floors or furniture. /

Figure 10 James Weir: A neutral backdrop in M328

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Interior Design Brief

Interior Design Brief

Design Teams are required to produce the following design information for each building:

1.  Mood Board (to be submitted in Adobe PDF format) – Demonstrating a clear and distinct style and approach. The mood board should contain sufficient images, ideas, themes, features, graphics, colours, sketches, ideas, furniture (built in and loose) and fabrics to visualise the proposed visual identity for each building.
2.  Sufficient plans, room elevations and 3D visuals to describe each scheme
3.  Sample Board (see Appendix 3) – showing all the final proposed finishes for a scheme. The board should contain all proposed finishes and details as follows:
·  Wall colours, (limited to selected colours and styles that tie in with the building colour in Appendix 2)
·  Floor finishes e.g. lino, rubber, stone, wood, ceramics and slate (indicating safety and feature flooring).
·  Ceiling systems
·  Feature and general lighting / ·  Furniture and fabric colours
·  Blinds
·  Ironmongery
·  Handrails
·  Light switches
·  Data trunking
·  Skirting details
·  Wire management systems.
·  Location and use of technology / ·  Design, use and application of graphics
·  Specification of images, display boards and fixings for interior spaces either in rooms or corridors are to be considered.

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Interior Design Brief

Mood Board

‘The provision of the mood board (item 1 on page 11) and specification board (Appendix 3) are basic requirements for each building and will be created by the first design team to work on a major project in each building.’ / The availability of a mood board and specification board should be checked with the Interior Designer through the Project Manager at the outset of each project.
Once the mood board information has been provided to Estates Management for each building, the University’s Interior Designer will supplement it with any necessary bespoke information on a project by project basis through project specific briefing documentation

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Generic Issues

Generic Issues:

Reception Areas

Entrance Foyers and Reception Areas should demonstrate a consistent Corporate Image through a palette of natural elements including slate and wood in conjunction with graphics, text and images. This is the University’s opportunity to emphasis its values at the outset of visitors and students experience on campus with simple, / beautiful designs incorporating a white/off white washed backdrop and splashes of colour as illustrated below in the Thomas Graham & Graham Hills Building.

Figure 11 Thomas Graham: Entrance Foyer

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Generic Issues

Reception Design

Figure 12 Graham Hills: 50 George Street entrance foyer

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Generic Issues

Reception Area Core Colours

·  Paint to be white/off white and stone

·  Blocks of the Building Identity colour

·  Feature walls should be present in either stone, wood, glass or plastic cladding

·  Flooring should be finished in either stone, marble, timber or grey slate should be used

If alternative colours have to be used for any reason these should not be implemented unless they have been discussed first with the University’s Interior Designer

Reception Area Core Finishes

·  Uncluttered minimal look

·  All paint to be Matt Diamond finish, (Dulux range or International equivalent)

·  All painted joinery to be Satinwood finish, (Dulux range or International equivalent)

·  Any cupboards are to be laminated

·  Internal door finishes and stair nosing details have already been selected for each building type and will be indicated in the relevant project brief.

·  Graphic imagery should be acrylic and backlit

·  Contemporary furniture e.g. black/white/timber reception desks in simple designs

·  Feature lighting

·  Digital signage

·  Black/Satin Stainless Steel entrance matting

·  Satin Stainless Steel or Timber handrails

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Generic Issues

Reception Desks

Reception desks are vital to the design of this space type and these should be ultra modern and forward thinking in design with simple detailing and no undue decoration. These desks should be built with invisible fixings, use durable materials, be limited in colour, (i.e. black or white,) with splashes of the building identity colour or timber.

Consideration should also be given to sufficient working space, DDA recommendations and dimensions and the necessary tooling must be built into the desk. Cabling should be hidden as efficiently as possible and the desk should have a regular flat screen monitor / laptop and a recessed security monitor.