The Greenwich Campus of the University is very fortunate to occupy a variety of historical buildings in the Old Royal Naval College, and in 2009 they acquired a World Heritage Site in the middle of Greenwich.
The plan for the new site was to host a purpose built home for the architecture landscape creative professions, with space for the newly instated digital arts faculty, and a new campus library.
A competition was launched in the same year for the design of the building, with the contract being awarded to Heneghan Peng Architects based in Dublin. Heneghan Peng Architects are widely known in the architectural community for being shortlisted for the Sterling Prize for their work on the Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre in Northern Ireland.
https://www.hparc.com/work/university-of-greenwich-library-school-of-architecture-and-construction/
The architects challenge was to produce a vibrant and sustainable building that would be accepted as a good addition to the World Heritage Site and also integrate with the wider community of Greenwich and enhance the academic experience for staff and students of the University.
Before construction could commence, The University of Greenwich commissioned an £85,000 archeological dig at the site.
This dig uncovered many artifacts, including Medieval pottery and a mid-19th Century jug depicting the story of Robinson Crusoe.
Stockwell Street Timelapse video
Stockwell Street Building - Recognition
The plan was for a new home to the architecture landscape, the newly created creative professions and digital arts disciplines department and a new campus library.
Arranged over five floors, the main feature of the building is the huge steel central staircase offering fabulous views from different angles. Huge picture windows give views over Greenwich, Hawksmoor’s St Alfrege Church the tea clipper Cutty Sark and Canary Wharf.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has given the £80 million building a 2015 national award. RIBA give the prizes "to buildings across the UK recognised as significant contributions to architecture". https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34424611
This latest honour came three weeks after Stockwell Street won the RIBA London Award for architecture excellence. It also means that the building was considered for the Stirling prize shortlist
RIBA praised the building's light and space, adding that it "benefits from clear vertical circulation – the acoustics are remarkable. The roof gardens provide added delight". https://www.floornature.com/heneghan-peng-architects-university-of-greenwich-stockwell-street-building-london-10853/