Rootes fields gone forever

Construction work has begun on a new hall of residence sited on the area formerly known as Rootes field. According to an entry on the e-architect website the new residences “comprises of 4 butterfly-shaped blocks, set within a naturalistic landscape” and are designed to house 500 students.

David Page of the architectural firm Page & Park stated that the aim of the new residences was to “mediate between the built urbanity of the central campus and the wooded landscape of the Tocil Valley by using the residence blocks to define a sequence of garden landscapes”.

The residences are designed to make use of natural light and ventilation as part of the University’s ongoing energy reduction strategy, and to be completed within the year. The design takes advantage of concrete frames that are intended to reduce building noise and construction time.

The proximity of the building site to current residences has been a source of concern for some first year students living in New and Old Rootes residences. While one first year student the Boar spoke to appreciated that campus expansion was inevitable and that efforts were being made to reduce noise, it was still “very unpleasant” for students with rooms overlooking the building site, especially as the weather improves and temperatures rise.

A finalist who spoke to the Boar also questioned the choice of location for the residences on Rootes field, which traditionally has been a popular location for students to celebrate with barbeques and summer parties after the end of third term exams. Last year it was also the location for Warwick Student Cinema’s popular open air film screening.

Construction of the new residences follows growing student numbers and incidences of first year students having to be housed off campus due to bed shortages. Residences also form an important source of income for the University as part of the lucrative conferences market, although it is unclear at this stage whether the new halls are intended to take advantage of this, nor what the rent will be for students when the residences are completed.