Expanding and 'inflating' our campus
If there’s one thing that seems to be constant across the University, then that would be building work! Whether that’s refurbishing an existing block or building something new and exciting. We’ve seen many changes over the years as we continue to reinvigorate and invest in our campus facilities. A quick look over the hoardings at the STEM Connect Programme site will show you the latest phase of our investment programme.
But did you know that 56 years ago, the University of Warwick was ready to ‘blow up’ a building! Don’t panic, it was an inflatable building. A pretty common sight today, but at the time it was the first of its kind in the country approved to be used for social purposes.
Known as the Air Hall or Air Dome, it was used as a multi-purpose social centre for the University until more permanent buildings were built. Taking around 30 minutes to inflate, the Air Dome was used by between 500-600 students at a time for dances, indoor games or other social events. It wasn't initially well received by students who, even before the building was fully inflated, were describing it as a ‘white elephant’. A lack of a licensed bar and sanitary facilities were the main concerns with students having to walk over 200 yards to another building for a drink or the toilets!
Back in Warwick’s early years, the University was growing fast and thinking creatively about how to use its space. The Air Hall was part of that bold, experimental spirit. It offered a large, flexible space for activities and social use, proving that not every building needed to follow the rulebook.
It’s a reminder that the University hasn’t just been a place for big ideas in lecture halls, but for bold experiments in how people come together. After all, not every university can say it once had a building held up by nothing more than air.
The Air Dome stood on the site now occupied by the sculpture by Richard Deacon called 'Let's Not Be Stupid'. Not your typical bouncy castle, this blow up structure was the length of nine London buses and as tall as a two-storey house.
Made from the toughest material of its kind in the country - remember this was 1970 - the unusual structure looked more like something you’d expect to see at a festival or on a sci‑fi film set rather than on a university campus. It must have turned the heads of a few drivers going past on Gibbet Hill Road!
Of course, inflatable architecture doesn’t last forever, and the dome was sold in March 1975 as the buildings we recognise on campus today neared completion. Potential buyers were invited to come and view the dome for themselves and see the ‘building deflated and inflated in a matter of minutes.’
Who knows where the Air Dome ended up next, a temporary solution that became a memorable part of campus life capturing something special about Warwick’s early character.
Have you heard any stories of the air dome or other unusual campus developments? We’d love to know?
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