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Castle Meadow Campus

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Coordinates: 52°57′N 1°09′W / 52.95°N 1.15°W / 52.95; -1.15
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Castle Meadow Campus
View looking north in January 2008
Castle Meadow Campus is located in Nottinghamshire
Castle Meadow Campus
Location within Nottinghamshire
General information
TypeUniversity campus
(former tax office)
AddressNottingham, NG2 1AB
Coordinates52°57′N 1°09′W / 52.95°N 1.15°W / 52.95; -1.15
Elevation30 m (98 ft)
Construction started18 January 1993
CompletedFebruary 1995
Inaugurated19 May 1995
Cost£76m.
ClientInland Revenue
OwnerUniversity of Nottingham
Technical details
Structural systemConcrete and brick
Floor area120,000 square feet (39,000 sq m)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Hopkins
Architecture firmMichael Hopkins and Partners
Structural engineerArup Group
Services engineerArup Group, Christian Bartenbach (lighting)
Main contractorLaing Management

Castle Meadow Campus is a distinctive and large series of buildings in the west of the centre of Nottingham, completed in 1994 and occupied by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) from its construction until 2021,[1] when it was purchased by the University of Nottingham.[2]

The campus comprises seven buildings with tree-lined boulevards. It is built on a former railway goods yard off the A453 off Castle Meadow Road, next to the Nottingham Canal.

History

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There was to be parking for 350 cars, and 37,000 square metres of office.[3] The Inland Revenue bought the seven-acre site from British Rail in April 1990.[4] It was planned to open in 1992, and to cost £58m.[5]

In May 1997 many staff complained that the building made them ill, due to high temperatures,[6] with headaches and blurred vision.[7]

HMRC

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It housed around 1,800 HMRC staff. It operated the Enterprise Investment Scheme, Corporate Venturing Scheme, Venture Capital Trusts, and Enterprise Management Incentives, HMRC's Pension Schemes Services, and the Residency department, which dealt with Double Taxation Treaties and inheritance tax. It had the Valuation Office Agency for the East Midlands and East of England.

Design

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The first designs in January 1991 were described as being 'like a 1960’s comprehensive school'.[8] The local council planning committee did not like the design, and told the Inland Revenue to come up with something a bit better in July 1991, describing the design as 'too 1960s' and had too much 'ugliness'.[9]

Six architectural practices were shortlisted in a competition in October 1991.[10] The six competing designs were announced on 15 January 1992.[11] Hopkins design was announced as the winner on Monday 24 February 1992, by Francis Maude.[12]

The buildings were designed by Hopkins Architects with engineering by Arup Group.[13] The design employs natural ventilation. The main Amenity Building has a fabric roof suspended from four raking steel masts. The design employs the thermal mass of the concrete to cool the building at night. There are 1,052 pre-built deep brick piers with 863 concrete ceiling beams.

In May 2023 the buildings were listed at Grade II.[14]

Construction

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Construction would start in January 1993, to be finished by the end of 1994, and to be occupied during 1995.[15] Stephen Dorrell, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, officially started the construction, by Laing, on Monday 18 January 1993, with Sir Anthony Battishill, chairman of the Inland Revenue.[16] Work on the first floor began in late June 1993.[17]

The topping out ceremony was on Thursday 24 February 1994, by project manager James O'Hare.[18] The fabric structure was built in July 1994, for the amenity building.[19] The building was completed by February 1995.[20][21]

The building was officially opened by Kenneth Clarke, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Friday 19 May 1995. It had cost £76m.[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Nottinghamshire Live https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/former-hmrc-offices-recognised-special-8499115
  2. ^ "University of Nottingham acquires landmark HMRC site which was on market for more than £36m - Business Live". 22 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  3. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Monday 29 January 1990, page 10
  4. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Wednesday 11 April 1990, page 11
  5. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Thursday 28 March 1991, page 3
  6. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Saturday 3 May 1997, page 1
  7. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Monday 26 May 1997, page 5
  8. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Friday 11 January 1991, page 19
  9. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Wednesday 24 July 1991, page 10
  10. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Friday 25 October 1991, page 12
  11. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Wednesday 15 January 1992, page 1
  12. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Monday 24 February 1992, page 1
  13. ^ Nottingham: An illustrated history
  14. ^ Historic England https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1481344?section=official-list-entry
  15. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Tuesday 26 May 1992, page 8
  16. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Monday 18 January 1993, page 1
  17. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Thursday 24 June 1993, page 17
  18. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Thursday 24 February 1994, page 17
  19. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Tuesday 5 July 1994, page 35
  20. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Tuesday 14 February 1995, page 5
  21. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Wednesday 15 February 1995, page 6
  22. ^ Nottingham Evening Post Saturday 20 May 1995, page 5
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