Context

ACO provided integral drainage systems to sympathetically complement the character at the Blavatnik School of Government building at the University of Oxford. Since its official opening in 2015, the project has been awarded a succession of distinguished 'New Building' architectural accolades, including the RIBA South Award and the Oxford Preservation Trust Award.

Project detail

Architects Herzog de Meuron were tasked with designing the building alongside main contractors Laing O’ Rourke, on a project where digital expertise, researched environmental design and a feeling of openness were paramount.

To create a modern building encompassing the values of Oxford’s local architectural heritage, the design had to combine classic aesthetics with modern functionality. This ethos had to feature throughout all elements of the project, including the management of the water, where ACO products were specified to provide a subtle, complementing finish.

The building integrated sustainable systems throughout, including a partial green roof on two levels. This 'living roof' was covered with vegetation to enhance biodiversity and attenuate stormwater runoff. Around the building the water management network is completed by attenuation tanks and sleek ACO drainage channel solutions.

Open integrating precinct

Around the Blavatnik building an open paved space was created to reflect both the open ethos of the School, and the design brief to blend with the surrounding historic buildings. Materials that would be most suitable, given the colours and tones of the building, were selected to add fitting character to the project.

With that in mind, 1800m2 of granite paving in a Royal Coffee colour from Hardscape was installed around the building. This required a water management solution that could integrate into the paving configuration while clearing the large impermeable surface area.

Gary Morton, Head of Stakeholder Engagement at ACO explains, “Around the immediate façade of the Blavatnik building, a thin protective line of ACO MultiDrain MD Brickslot has been installed to collect water before it reaches the building and its entrances.

“Additionally, an extra level of care needed to be taken for the surrounding buildings and pedestrian areas given the water runoff from a building of this size. This is why further ACO drainage sits on the edge of the paving, where the building surround meets the street.”

Taking these requirements into account, ACO Heelsafe Modular 125+ has been installed in a few areas around the edge of the Blavatnik site. These include around the inside of the stone wall, matched to the brick of the adjoining historic building, as well as next to the bike storage racks synonymous with the city of Oxford and its world-famous university. Manufactured from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, the modular design of the Modular 125+ allows for easy system design and assembly, providing a professional drainage perimeter to the Blavatnik building.

Gary Morton concludes, “It was an honour to be a part of the construction process of the Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford. Combining aesthetic water management solutions with our unique support is a key part of ACO’s offering.”