Design & Digital Arts Building, Nottingham Trent University

Strategically located at the intersection of Shakespeare Street, North Sherwood Street, and South Sherwood Street, DaDA forms a prominent city-centre landmark. Its high-quality design complements surrounding historic structures, including the Arkwright Building (Grade II*), Central Fire Station (Grade II), and University Hall (Grade II). The building’s glazed facades, combined with modern brick and metal accents, create a visually engaging gateway that balances heritage and innovation.

Internally, the design encourages collaboration and interaction, providing flexible spaces that can evolve with emerging technologies and pedagogical requirements.

DaDA delivers specialist learning and production facilities across multiple floors, including:

• Virtual Production Studios: Advanced studios supporting immersive filmmaking experiences.
• Performance Capture Studios: For motion capture and animation projects.
• Editing Suites: High-specification rooms for post-production work.
• Innovation Labs: Collaborative spaces connecting students with industry projects.
• Black Box Studios: Versatile spaces for experimental and interdisciplinary work.
• Gallery & Exhibition Spaces: Ground-floor transparency allows student work to be viewed from street level, engaging both the university community and the public.
• Café and Social Areas: Promoting informal collaboration and engagement across disciplines.

DaDA is designed as a low-energy, fully electric building, incorporating:

• High-performance insulated fabric and glazing for minimal heat loss.
• Roof-mounted air source heat pumps and exposed thermal mass to reduce energy demand.
• Stack ventilation strategies to harness natural airflow and reduce mechanical extraction.
• Generous daylighting to minimise artificial lighting needs, crucial for detailed design tasks.
• Achieved EPC A rating and maintained BREEAM Excellent despite specification and budgetary challenges.

These strategies collectively support NTU’s net-zero carbon ambitions while creating a comfortable, high-quality learning environment.

DaDA strengthens the University’s connection with Nottingham and the broader creative industries. Its transparent ground floor and exhibition areas showcase student work, while the large digital screen presents a constant showreel of projects. Public events hosted within the building allow the wider community to engage with NTU’s students and facilities.

The building also supports cross-disciplinary collaboration among courses, fostering creativity, innovation, and leadership among students. Its presence expands NTU’s city-centre campus, attracting new students, boosting local industry opportunities, and contributing to Nottingham’s cultural and economic growth.

Photography by Martine Hamilton Knight