HSLT C- A sanctuary of learning.
HSLT C is the largest of three lecture spaces in the college of health sciences complex. It is connected to the other two lecture spaces by a walkway which connects the three edifices like a set of conjoined identical triplets. It is impossible to discuss the lecture theater, HSLT C without mentioning the other two lecture theatres, and in extension the entire complex of the college of health sciences. These complexes of building stand as an architectural masterpiece for the function of tertiary education.
The stage wall constitutes one end of the space and the opposite end the main entrances to the lecture theatre. The two parallel flanks -of an equal run as the other wall segment- provide floor to ceiling fenestration with glazing interrupted by 100 by 800mm reinforced concrete fins. From the outside, the building is observed as a solid brown monument, the building embodies it monolithic character on the exterior where horizontal elements are emphasized, the interior however gives a sense of a frame structure with the emphasis on horizontal elements, mainly the fenestration elements.
The essentially octagonal shape of the auditorium is boldly expressed, and stands as a vivid character of the building. The octagonal character of the building is not in isolation, it gains this character from octagonal spatial configuration of the college of health sciences complex. The other two lecture theatres also embody an octagonal character. The building is an intelligent response to the topography of the site. This is evident in the manner in which the building sits on the site and conforms to the change in levels. The building is also an efficient retort to the vegetation of the site. The blend of the brown soil, the brown clay(stone) façade of the building, and the green vexation creates an exemplary aesthetic feature.
Entering into the lecture hall, one is given a break from the busy nature of the streets on campus, and the silent voice of architecture is heard. Immediately, one senses, not only with the eyes that one is in a sanctuary of learning, one sense it with the ears from the distinctive acoustic features of the hall. Even the skin tells one what is going on by the fresh air that seamlessly flows around the space. Spending few minutes in this lecture hall, one is brought to a mode of learning, if one is conscious enough, one will breathe architecture. In a covid-19 world which has brought about the increased use of distant learning platforms. HSLT C stands as a testament for the enormous advantages physical learning gives.
The entrance with a visibly reduced height directs vision to the floor, upon entering the space however one’s attention is caught by the ceiling. The aesthetics of the interior has a great contribution from the ceiling. The form of the ceiling is not only for aesthetic purposes, it is also influenced by acoustic considerations. The walls are totally devoid of any ac acoustic treatment. The only consideration given to non-electronic acoustic performance appears to be with respect to the “egg crate ceiling”, uniformly provided over the whole auditorium. The is expected to produce differential reflection of sound. The egg frames constitute perpendicular timber frames of about 1500mm by 1500mm crisscrossed by diagonals recessed to house fluorescent tubes, providing artificial lighting with minimum glare.
The stepped floor of the auditorium comprises of thirteen levels, leading to the 700mm high podium, standing as the focal point of the auditorium. The stepped arrangement of the seats around the podium ensures the avoidance of having blind spots, Under the podium is a basement, the vaults serving the basement are visible on the walls of the podium.
Upon initial observation, the building is seen as very complex in plan, however, after careful observation, the building reveals itself as a icon for geometric architecture, having a symmetric form in plan, with all components, and compartments being a mirrored copy of one another. Simple but sophisticated.
The walkway leading to the lecture theatre has an octagonal orientation, accommodating eight reinforced concrete benches for convergence by students either moving along the area, or waiting to have a lecture in either of the health sciences lecture thwarters. This walkway also serves as a directional space for movement around the college health sciences complex. The orientation of the three lecture theatres results in a positive space that promotes not just movement but dwelling.
Paraphrasing the Finish architect, Alvar Aalto, “What matters is not what a building looks like on the day of launching, but what it looks like 30 years later. The meaning of a building as a place is derived from the experience of it by its users, HSLT C has over the served as a place of learning to students of Obafemi Awolowo University, and it is evident that the years ahead of it are way more than that of its past.
