The University of Bristol’s Sloane Robinson Building at the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus officially opened this week, following landscape and public realm design from Grant Associates.

The aim of the scheme is to transform a strategically located post-industrial site into a new green gateway to Bristol.

At the heart of the landscape is University Square, a major new public space and focal point at the entrance to the campus. From here, tree grove arrival spaces, planted terraces and social areas extend towards the riverside and floating harbour walkway, creating places to meet, study, eat and spend time outdoors.

Grant Associates worked closely with the University’s horticultural team from early design through to completion to develop the tree strategy and species selection, with regular reviews throughout the project.

More than 3,500 sq m of species-rich planting – including rain gardens, pollinator-rich planting, biodiverse roofs, native meadow and aquatic planting – creates a diverse and resilient green and blue infrastructure.

Chin Chen, associate director at Grant Associates, says:

“The Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus gave us the opportunity to rethink what the landscape of a city-centre university could be. We wanted the campus to feel rooted in Bristol — open, green and reconnecting nature with the city, rather than separated from it.

“The waterways and existing ecology gave us the starting point for this transformation journey. From there, landscape became the framework for creating places where students, staff and the wider community can meet, study, relax and spend time outdoors – embedding nature into the everyday life of the campus and the city.”