Boiler House, Boiler House Hill, University of Sussex, Brighton

Conservation Area (CA)

No.

Local Listing Reference

LLHA0256.

Description

The Boiler House dates from 1962 (with stage II in 1972) and is part of the original University campus designed Sir Basil Spence. It was built as a central facility to provide heating for the whole campus. Sussex was the first of seven new post war universities in the country. Spence prepared the masterplan in 1959 and the first buildings were ready for occupation in 1962. Ten of the original buildings have been statutorily listed, all based around Fulton Court (seven at grade II* and Falmer House at grade I).

The Boiler House was shown in the existing location in early masterplans. The Boiler House consists of sheer red/orange brick facing brick walls, reinforced concrete roof beams overhanging at each end at cornice level and a pre-cast reinforced concrete circular chimney stack faced in brick. The building is functional but monumental in design and conforms to the hierarchy of building types. The original ‘telescopic’ brick chimney stack is a notable feature but has been augmented by modern metal flues to serve the enlarged campus.

A. Architectural, design and artistic interest

ii The Boiler House represents a good example of a consciously designed mid - 20th century industrial building designed to provide centralised heating to a new university campus and formed part of the overall masterplan. It has a monumental quality.

iv The asset was design by nationally notable architect Sir Basil Spence as one of the original 1962 University of Sussex campus buildings and forms a grouping with his statutorily listed buildings.

C. Townscape interest

iii. The building forms a clear focal point or in a prominent location on the campus.

E. Rarity and representativeness

i. The building represents a good example of a design from this period which is uncommon in Brighton & Hove.

F. Intactness

i. The exterior of the building retains a sense of completeness as part of the larger campus group and retains the majority of its design features, despite the addition of modern flues.

ii. The building retains its original function as a Boiler House, although a new boiler plant was installed as part of a heating upgrade in 2007.

Date of inclusion

2023