Liverpool University – School of Architecture

Project Info

A dramatic long-span timber roof defines this new extension to the University of Liverpool’s School of Architecture, creating a light-filled, flexible space that showcases the potential of engineered timber. 

Designed around a 32-metre engineered timber roof, the extension provides a generous column-free pavilion for teaching, exhibitions and events. Formed from glulam beams with spruce panels, the structure spans the entire space while drawing daylight deep into the building through integrated roof glazing, creating bright and adaptable interiors. 

The scheme combines engineered timber with a reinforced concrete frame, using each material where it performs best. Concrete provides stability, while the lightweight timber roof remains the defining architectural feature, demonstrating how hybrid construction can achieve both structural efficiency and reduced embodied carbon. Throughout the building, the exposed timber structure also minimises the need for additional finishes, allowing the primary materials to shape the character of the interior. 

Externally, the new extension sits comfortably alongside the University’s brick and stone buildings, while its timber roof signals a contemporary approach to design and construction. Internally, the clearly expressed hybrid structure itself becomes part of the learning experience, demonstrating how thoughtful material choices can deliver flexible, low-carbon architecture.