The ‘Pod’ is a lecture theatre and social space at Solent University - blending ship building technology and sophisticated structural engineering practices.

Scott White and Hookins have carried out many projects for the University since 2006, including feasibility studies and significant refurbishments.

SWH were appointed as Civil and Structural Engineers for a new academic teaching facility on the University main campus site, which achieved BREEAM Excellent rating. This seven-storey reinforced concrete framed building provides flexible teaching accommodation via a feature atrium with large circulation space and lecture theatres.

The atrium houses a ‘Pod’ structure containing an eighty seat lecture theatre with a flexible social space on top. The structural engineering of the ‘Pod’ was completed by SWH and incorporates many unique and ground breaking engineering concepts and principles.

The ‘Pod’ is the first and only example of a structure of this type in existence, seamlessly blending maritime ship building technology to sophisticated structural engineering practices. The ‘Pod’ is raised up on 14m high slender steel columns and its shell is formed out of 10mm thick plate steel. The ‘Pod’ creates an iconic centre piece to the Universities campus.

Southampton Solent University’s ‘The Spark’ building that houses the Pod won the Student Experience Award and was Highly Commended in the Project of the Year: Colleges and Universities category, in 2017.