The competition for the new “Project Exceptional” building at the University of Exeter called for a single facility bringing together three major research strands —Global Systems, Astrophysics, and Humanities and Social Sciences— alongside teaching spaces and areas for collaboration. The proposal was organised around a generous four‑storey central atrium, conceived as the social and spatial heart of the building, encouraging interaction between disciplines. A distinctive triangular form responds to the sloping topography of the campus and establishes a strong architectural presence.
The lower levels accommodate laboratories and workshops supporting applied research, while the upper floors
house seminar rooms, study spaces and social areas. These programmes are arranged through an open and flexible spatial sequence. The structural strategy combines a steel frame with cross‑laminated timber (CLT) slabs, supported by Y‑shaped columns and folded planes for the roof integrating skylights and extensive green surfaces, reinforcing the project’s environmental ambitions and its relationship to the landscape.
During the competition, Juan Valeros was responsible for coordinating the architectural expression of the project, including both the external character and the interior spatial definition.
