Architecture firm ADP has successfully completed the first phase of converting a former Debenhams department store into a modern university campus for the University of Gloucestershire. The ambitious retrofit project serves dual purposes: creating a state-of-the-art educational facility and contributing to the broader regeneration efforts in Gloucester's downtown area and high street.

The initial phase of the transformation has converted the ground and first floors of the building into comprehensive educational facilities. These spaces now house lecture halls, seminar rooms, dedicated study areas, and space for the city's public library. Additionally, the entire building envelope has undergone significant upgrades to meet modern standards. Future development phases will modernize all five floors of the impressive 20,000-square-meter building.

The new City Campus, strategically located in Kings Square, serves as the home base for the university's education, psychology, and social work programs. The facility also features a new arts, health, and wellbeing center. This central location will accommodate approximately 1,200 students and staff members, while also housing public services including Gloucester's central library, making it a true community resource.

The retrofit project presented unique challenges due to the building's rich architectural history. The structure contains sections dating back to the early 1900s, 1930s, and 1950s, requiring careful preservation work. ADP collaborated closely with conservation officers to maintain the building's original heritage features, as it sits within the Gloucester City Conservation Area. The exterior Art Deco facade has been meticulously renovated, including the restoration of the distinctive leaded tracery from the original shop windows.

Most of the existing building envelope and structural elements have been preserved and upgraded rather than replaced. Inside, the architectural team redesigned the internal floor plates to create a series of lightwells that bring natural light into the space. They also developed what they call a 'social ribbon' - a connecting pathway that links all spaces throughout the building, encouraging interaction and community building.

Sustainability played a major role in the renovation design. The building now incorporates low-carbon design technologies and intelligent building systems for heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting. These systems include energy-efficient air-source heat pumps that reduce the campus's environmental footprint while maintaining comfortable learning environments year-round.

The university campus conversion is part of a larger urban renewal initiative in Kings Square. The area also features The Forum, a new contemporary mixed-use development designed by UrbanR in collaboration with Whittam Cox Architects. This £107 million project is scheduled for completion next year, further enhancing the area's transformation.

Natalia Lopez, associate director at ADP, expressed enthusiasm about the project's broader implications. "We are so pleased to be part of this flagship project, transforming a landmark building in the center of Gloucester into a dynamic, future-facing university campus," she said. "The project is more than a retrofit; it's a bold statement about the future of our cities, where underused retail spaces can be reborn as engines of education, community and renewal. This is architecture as urban repair, reactivating the high street, creating opportunity, and showing what's possible when big-box retail buildings are reimagined for public good. It's a model for regeneration everywhere."

University leadership also celebrated the milestone achievement. Clare Marchant, vice-chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire, described the opening as "a proud moment for the University of Gloucestershire. This landmark building provides state-of-the-art facilities to support our students' learning, while also offering flexibility to accommodate future needs. As a community campus, it is the embodiment of our vision of being the Connected University. With shared spaces open to all, it places us right at the heart of Gloucester and creates new opportunities to work in partnership with local businesses, organizations and the communities we serve."

Richard Fielding, area director for the Midlands at Morgan Sindall Construction, reflected on the construction challenges and rewards. "It's been brilliant to see this old Debenhams building get a new lease of life as a university campus," he noted. "These big retail spaces have sat empty for too long, so to transform one into a place that will bring thousands of students into the heart of Gloucester is exactly what the city needs. The building had real character that we wanted to preserve - working with those Art Deco features and the different sections dating back over decades was a fascinating challenge."

The project timeline spans from October 2022 to September 2025, with a total gross internal floor area of 20,000 square meters. The collaborative effort involved multiple specialists including Arup for structural engineering and mechanical/electrical consulting, Dodd Group for additional consulting, and various other firms handling everything from fire safety to landscape design. The building has achieved an impressive Energy Performance Certificate rating of A, with predicted operational energy consumption of 175 kWh per square meter per year.