CASE STUDY | UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD Concrete cast in a new light Arups award-winning scheme to transform a brutalist bridge and concourse into a social hub has proved an overarching success T he use of coloured lighting, especially in exterior environments, remains a cause of debate. From the moment LEDs made easily controllable, multicoloured lighting possible, it was evident that in the wrong hands the non-lighting specialist some unspeakable chromatic crimes would be committed. Indeed, there are a number of rainbowed historic faades around the country that would benet from a power cut. There are times, however, when colour is the right answer to the question of how best to improve a space. Used judicially, thoughtfully and in the appropriate context, it is nothing short of transformative. Its use by Arup for a brutalist concourse space at the University of Shefeld is a case in point. Adjacent to the Students Union (SU), the concourse is divided by a 50-year-old concrete viaduct (designed by Arup in 1960s) supporting a dual carriageway above. Not surprisingly, the dismal, deadening weight of the structure dampened peoples spirits, and the concourse became a nonspace that they passed through rather than lingered in. The aim was to revitalise the area, creating a multi-use space to encourage students and the public to sit, socialise and relax. There were certain functional constraints. The bridge is owned and maintained by Shefeld City Council, which meant that all lighting installed had to be demountable and not interfere with or intrude into the physical structure. For easy replacement and maintenance of the lighting, all ttings needed to be mechanically xed (no adhesive). The team created custom xings made from standard components to allow for simple replacement when necessary and for longevity. In the spirit of the architecture, the lighting scheme is strong and straightforward in concept. The aim was to accentuate the clean lines and textures of the structures, while countering their drabness with colour and vibrancy. The simple elegant lines of the concrete structure demanded an uncomplicated lighting approach, treating each face as an individual element to be in light or shade, says Dan Lister, associate, lighting, at Arup. The structure has been considered as four elements inner and outer softs, and inner and outer surfaces. The colours have been carefully selected to contrast surfaces and complement materials. The aim of the lighting scheme is to accentuate the clean lines and textures of the structures 40 December 2020 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Dec20 pp40-41 Supp University of Sheffield Arup.indd 40 20/11/2020 16:04