The Exchange Building, Falmouth
Project team
Client:University College Falmouth, University of Exeter
Architect:Burwell Deakins
Main Contractor:Leadbitter Group
Concrete Contractor:Farrell Construction Services
The Exchange is a teaching and student services building on Falmouth University's Penryn campus, designed by architects Burwell Deakins. The aesthetic is dominated by the visual concrete, with the walls and soffits advertising the rough plywood shuttering that was used as formwork for the in-situ concrete frame.
As well as being material efficient and utilising concrete's thermal mass, the finish was also cost-effective, contributing to a build cost of £2,400 per m2.
The exposed concrete used a secondary aggregate, china clay stent, which also lightened the concrete and provided sharp contrast to the oak and glass elements in the building.
"The significant vertical spaces created by this approach make exposed concrete as an ideal material" Nicholas Burwell said "Because of the big, open spaces, you can use natural ventilation more easily, and a concrete soffit is a very good heat sink.
The passive cooling strategy and the use of concrete has contributed to the project being on course for a BREEAM "Excellent" rating.