Plans by the Robert Gordon University to extend its Garthdee campus by building a new 35,000 square metre teaching facility have been recommended for approval by planning officers.

Members of Aberdeen Council's Development Management Sub-committee will consider the proposal when it meets in the Town House on Thursday [18 March].

The proposed development would house the university's schools of life science, pharmacy, computing, engineering, art and architecture and the built environment. It will be built around an internal courtyard space.

The plans are for the construction of a large academic building in the eastern part of the campus. There will be a long, sinuous block along the contour of the site in parallel with a second, shorter block further down the site.

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The blocks will be defined by two towers with a third tower half-way along the development between the covered atrium and external learning space.

The western tower will be a high round tower rising above the surrounding buildings and woodlands, housing a library and learning building.

In the committee report, Dr Margaret Bochel, head of planning and sustainable development writes: "In visual terms the new building will be more apparent, particularly the library tower which will rise above the level of adjacent buildings and woodland.

"This tower is purposely designed to rise above the height of the adjacent buildings and woodland and function as a visual marker, a keynote feature, in the area and thus identify and define the RGU campus whose buildings will be distinctive and considered a beneficial addition to the landscape."

She added: "The distinctive design and layout of the buildings and the site has been based on sustainability principles. There will be well located, usable and inviting outdoor spaces.

"In overall terms the landscaping scheme complements the new buildings and includes improvements to the site frontage, the provision of a new plaza entrance adjacent to a lawn and orchard woodland… the combination of the landscape measures will result in a varied, rich and sustainable environment within the site which will complement the undisturbed river edge."

(GK)