Headington Hill Site, Oxford Brookes University

Pacegrade delivered the façade for Oxford Brookes University’s new Purpose Built Workshop (PBW), a state-of-the-art facility for the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics.

Part of the university’s strategic relocation of its engineering faculty to Headington Hill, the PBW sits alongside the adjacent teaching building. It provides spaces for disciplines such as motorsport engineering, robotics, and material sciences, supporting both the curriculum and the university’s renowned racing team.

The building also achieves a high level of sustainability, through the enhanced thermal envelope and a breathable façade solution, which are critical to regulating the environment for the specialist engine test cells and wind tunnels housed within.

Pacegrade worked with Willmott Dixon and ADP to deliver the high-performance façade system, balancing performance with sustainability. Key project considerations included:

• Structural efficiency to support heavy vehicles and specialist machinery while minimising vibration.
• Material optimisation to reduce costs and environmental impact.
• Tree root protection zones influencing drainage design.

Solutions involved a steel-framed structure with exposed concrete floors, lightweight façade elements, and a sustainable drainage strategy integrated into the site’s sensitive parkland setting. Precision detailing ensured a clean integration with the steel frame, while lightweight cladding elements supported the project’s structural and sustainability goals. 

The result is a sustainable, modern facility that is adaptable and enhances Oxford Brookes’ engineering capabilities and reinforces its commitment to innovation.