Department of Art Relocation
School of Art relocation
The Reading School of Art (RSA) is moving from TOB1 on the
Earley Gate side of campus to the redundant Central Kitchen Building close to
the centre of Whiteknights campus. The relocation will be complete in time for
the start of the 2023/24 academic year.
Work to refurbish the Central Kitchen Building and add an
extension to the east of the building began in January 2023. The two-storey
building will feature purpose-built gallery space to allow artwork to be
displayed throughout the year, as well as workshops for activities such as
ceramics, screen printing, and wood and metal work. There will also be new
studios and visitor space.
The new School of Art building has been designed to meet
BREEAM Very Good standards as a minimum. It will be connected to the nearby
Energy Centre to provide a renewable energy supply and solar panels will be
installed on the south-facing roof. There will be additional windows to allow
natural light into the teaching and studio spaces, and cycle provision outside.
In addition, internal space within the Polly Vacher building
(located to the north of the site) will be refurbished to allow office space in
connection within the School of Art. The existing Car Park 11 will be utilised
in connection with these proposals.
TOB1, where the School of Art is currently located, will be
demolished to make way for a proposed
new headquarters for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
(ECMWF).
Proposed Ground Floor Layout