BM3 Architecture was recently placed in the top 10 of 127 entries of an International Competition for a new Faculty of Engineering at the University of Cyprus. The competition brief was to provide a sustainable solution for accommodation for the three engineering departments of which make up the faculty with opportunity for future expansion.

The concept proposed three separate buildings for each department focused on a central square which unified the departments into one faculty. All main entrances for each department are accessed from the square which also includes a pavilion housing the Faculty Deanery, exhibition space and a café. Each department focused on a main top-lit atrium space including academic and research offices. From the atrium is access to the laboratory ‘wings’ which are designed for maximum flexibility for future changes and expansion of each department. Each building is designed to deal with the high summer temperatures and sunlight using sustainable solutions. Proposals included cooling/heating the buildings by passing ground water through the concrete structures from an aquifer 7m below the site which has a constant temperature of 17°C.

Due to the size of this scheme the design team made up of both Architects and Engineers visited Cyprus twice in order to understand the brief and develop the design. Once the scheme was submitted the drawings and model were personally taken to Cyprus and submitted.

BM3 Architecture ranked 5th out of 127 applicants and received a special recognition award.