Think of natural slate. It’s been forming beneath the earth for millions of years. The A. G. Brighton & Colin Forbes Building reflects this with its unique facade.
Welcome to the A. G. Brighton & Colin Forbes Building. It is a modern space with a very important purpose. It houses geological collections for the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences.
The Sedgwick Museum is the oldest of the University of Cambridge Museums. Previously its nearly 2 million fossils were spread across different buildings. Now they are united here at the A. G. Brighton & Colin Forbes Building.
Cowper Griffith Architects faced a challenge. They needed to design a building that represented its contents. Alice Milligan of the architecture team explains more. Natural slate was chosen to reflect the fossils and rock samples inside.
The A. G. Brighton & Colin Forbes Building is also named after Dr. Colin Forbes. He was a senior figure in the University’s Department of Earth Sciences.
Many of the fossils are quite sensitive. Recreating the necessary conditions inside was crucial. It was even more important than the external aesthetics.
Alice Milligan says that creating a stable environment was vital. A system with dependable waterproofing performance was needed. The proven performance of CUPACLAD made the decision simple.
CUPACLAD 101 Random was the final choice. It has a playful appearance. It consists of slates in sizes 50x15cm 50x20cm and 50x25cm. These slates are installed in three different planes. Floor-to-ceiling windows separate the planes. This allows the right amount of natural light to enter.
Steven Duke at RG Carter was the Project Director. He says maintaining uniformity in the slate layers was important. The CUPA PIZARRAS system made this simple.
He also noted the installation was straightforward. They were very pleased with the guidance and technical assistance received.
Dr. Liz Hide is the Director of the Sedgwick Museum. She says the slate clad exterior reflects the geological collections.
The A. G. Brighton & Colin Forbes Building has become a prestigious milestone. Researchers from around the world visit this high-quality building.
The A. G. Brighton & Colin Forbes Building also houses a geological conservation laboratory. It is a collections store in West Cambridge.
The building is named after Albert George Brighton. He was curator of the Sedgwick Museum from 1931 until his retirement in 1968. He was known as Bertie or Peter Brighton.
Inside the Collections Research Centre researchers can study the collections. Spaces are provided for researchers students and the public. They can access petrology mineralogy and paleontology collections. The historic archive is also accessible.
The collections are stored in climate-controlled conditions. Access is by arrangement with Museum staff. The museum also runs regular behind-the-scenes tours. These are for groups and members of the public.
So, the next time you see the A. G. Brighton & Colin Forbes Building remember its purpose. It protects and showcases millions of years of Earth’s history. It provides a space for discovery and research. All wrapped in a beautiful slate facade.