Bath Spa University has opened their new campus home for Bath School of Art and Design. The Grade II listed, 1976, former Herman Miller ‘Action Factory’ beside the River Avon, has been re-purposed by its original designer Grimshaw to become a bespoke creative workspace for Bath School of Art and Design. 
The first students arrived at the new Bath School of Art and Design in mid-October to bring their creative energy and new activity to the former ‘Action Factory’. Vice Chancellor Sue Rigby welcomed visitors to explore the new school and toasted the academic staff, the estates team, and designers.
Originally designed by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw and opened in 1976, Bath Spa University has spent the last few years revitalising this Grade II listed building and creating a new history for this iconic factory site. Grimshaw Architects undertook the re-design work to evolve the intentionally flexible building for its new life as a creative centre for Art and Design in the South West.
We worked alongside Grimshaw, CBRE and All Tree Services to prepare the planning application landscape design. The brief was to enhance the setting of the listed former factory and improve access and circulation whilst responding to the site levels, tree roots and riverside location. The design retained key landscape features include a line of mature willows and original outdoor furniture, noted in the listing.
For more information about our work, please contact Jamie Farnell. For information about the new Campus, visit the University web pages.
Feature image courtesy of Bath Spa University.