WilkinsonEyre was appointed in 2008 to design this new centrepiece for the University of Exeter’s famously hilly Streatham Campus. Working with the natural features of the site, the scheme creates a ‘green corridor’ to connect the Forum with the wider landscape. 

Central to the scheme is an undulating timber gridshell roof, which shelters and unifies a series of new student-focused spaces within. The fluid form contrasts with the orthogonal brick volumes of the existing buildings on this steeply sloping site, and respects key views across the city to Dartmoor. 
The Forum features an extended and refurbished library, 
new learning spaces, student services, catering and retail outlets, a landscaped plaza and new University reception as part of a £450 million capital investment programme which has propelled Exeter into the top ten UK universities.

Sustainability was an important driver in the development of the scheme, which has been designed to meet a series of a challenging environmental targets, and in doing so the project achieved a BREEAM Excellent accreditation.