As a successor to the Oxford School of Art founded in 1865, the Oxford Brookes University received its current name in 1992 in honor of <link https: en.wikipedia.org wiki john_henry_brookes external-link-new-window external link in new>John Henry Brookes, one of its earlier principals.
<link https: www.brookes.ac.uk external-link-new-window external link in new>Oxford Brookes University is comprised of Headington Campus, Wheatly Campus and Harcourt Hill Campus. As the eighth largest employer in the region, OBU maintains various facilities and services with around 2,500 employees, while around 18,000 students are currently visiting the university.
The John Henry Brookes Building, opened 2014, is located on the Headington Campus, about a mile away from the city center in a residential area in the east of Oxford. On an area of more than 24,000 m², an innovative project was created by the <link https: www.designengine.co.uk projects john-henry-brookes-oxford-brookes-university external-link-new-window external link in new>Design Engine Architectural Office based in Winchester, crowned by four <link https: www.architecture.com external-link-new-window external link in new>RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) awards:
RIBA National Award, RIBA South Building of the Year, RIBA South Regional Award as well as the RIBA South Sustainability Award have been awarded to the building, which is the new heart of the university. The jury of the award honors the design with the words "simply brilliant" and comments in addition: "A building made us wish we could go back to university again!”
The main task of the Architects was to combine old and new building components, while at the same time developing flexible spatial possibilities to combine learning and living side by side. Today, for example, there are rooms for lectures, teaching and training, as well as library and catering in the building.
„Anyone who has seen the way in which students have already made the space their own will recognise that not only is it beautiful, it is also functional“ (Prof. Janet Beer, Principal)
The main entrance of the John Henry Brookes Building invites you to take a breath and arrive. It opens out to the outside and meets the visitor with it - not just figuratively.
