Department of Art Relocation

School of Art relocation

The Reading School of Art (RSA) is moving from TOB1 on the Earley Gate side of campus to the redundant Central Kitchen Building close to the centre of Whiteknights campus. The relocation will be complete in time for the start of the 2023/24 academic year.

Work to refurbish the Central Kitchen Building and add an extension to the east of the building began in January 2023. The two-storey building will feature purpose-built gallery space to allow artwork to be displayed throughout the year, as well as workshops for activities such as ceramics, screen printing, and wood and metal work. There will also be new studios and visitor space.

The new School of Art building has been designed to meet BREEAM Very Good standards as a minimum. It will be connected to the nearby Energy Centre to provide a renewable energy supply and solar panels will be installed on the south-facing roof. There will be additional windows to allow natural light into the teaching and studio spaces, and cycle provision outside.

In addition, internal space within the Polly Vacher building (located to the north of the site) will be refurbished to allow office space in connection within the School of Art. The existing Car Park 11 will be utilised in connection with these proposals.

TOB1, where the School of Art is currently located, will be demolished to make way for a proposed new headquarters for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).

WhiteKnights Map Plan