The recent opening of the Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre marks the completion of a trio of LUC projects for Durham University.

All three projects were undertaken under Turner & Townsend’s framework agreement with the University, with LUC working alongside architects FaulknerBrowns.

10-year estate capital refurbishment programme

The initial project was a 10-year estate capital refurbishment programme. This examined supply and demand of academic, residential and support facilities across the city following the relocation of the Queen’s Campus in Stockton.

LUC’s role included landscape and townscape considerations in terms of opportunities and constraints, input into the Development Strategy, and the production of illustrative proposals for identified developments or redevelopments. Our work set out to understand and communicate the city’s rich historic context and its strong sense of place. Our guidance helped determine how development could be best integrated with this highly designated context.

Both subsequent projects stemmed from the Development Plan.

Maiden Castle Sports Park

LUC developed the landscape masterplan for the Maiden Castle Sports Park. It provides a significant upgrade of the University’s recreation facilities. LUC used landscape and visual impact assessment and extensive Pre Application contact with the city planners to help determine acceptable development parameters. This included the placing of buildings and their massing in relation to a nearby Scheduled Monument, Maiden Castle and local landscape character.

The close proximity of the River Wear posed particular challenges for external facilities. LUC’s SuDS based solutions integrated into attractive and welcoming multi-functional landscape treatment with inbuilt added screening.

LUC worked closely with both client and team throughout to ensure provision of fully integrated and state-of-the-art recreational facilities.

Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre

LUC provided landscape design services for the new Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre. The project required careful consideration of local context, this time in relation to the World Heritage Site. LUC’s visibility studies explored the relationship between the site and the proposed 8,000m2 building’s roofscape with that of the cathedral and the immediate local context.

At ground level, our public realm provides an important extension to the Lower Mountjoy Campus. An impressive public space to this gateway development adjacent to one of Durham’s key approaches is also provided.

Both schemes used best-practice methods and new thinking to create external spaces that are attractive, safe, sustainable, and climate change adaptive. Both are environments that reinforce Durham’s special sense of place, alongside providing contemporary and highly popular external spaces.

Learn about Urban Design & Masterplanning at LUC.