The universities of Greenwich and Kent have announced plans for further investment in student facilities at the Medway campus.
They hope to create a new ‘student hub’ for use by all 10,000 students on the campus. The aim is to bring new life to a derelict listing building, formerly used as swimming pool building and skittles alley.
Subject to planning approval, facilities could be open from 2016. The purpose-built student centre, with entertainment and social space, would also include offices for GK Unions, the students’ union partnership between Kent Union at Medway and the Students’ Union University of Greenwich.
The views of students themselves are helping to shape the design of the new facilities, through surveys and a consultation process led by GK Unions working with Dannatt Johnson Architects.
Professor David Maguire, Vice-Chancellor, University of Greenwich, and Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kent said: ‘This project represents a significant investment in the student experience at Medway and will provide new and additional facilities for the students’ union partnership. It will give a tremendous boost to the campus and become a huge asset to students at Medway for many years to come.’
Tammy Naidoo, President of Kent Union and Alex Brooks, President of the Students’ Union University of Greenwich, said: ‘This is an exciting new development for the whole of the Medway campus. It is positive to see the universities prepared to invest in the student experience at Medway. The proposed space will enhance our student-led activities, allowing existing groups to flourish and new ones to develop, and will also enable a greater community feel across the campus.’
Now a thriving centre for higher education, the Medway Campus is the centrepiece of the Universities at Medway partnership, involving Kent, Greenwich and Canterbury Christ Church universities. Other buildings to have been renovated on the campus include the Drill Hall Library, and the Pilkington Building, which opened to students in 2006 and 2007 respectively. All the key buildings on the site, including the old swimming pool, date back to the early 20th century when they were part of the HMS Pembroke Royal Navy barracks.
While the universities of Kent and Greenwich will fund and manage the proposed project, many of the new facilities will also be available to students of Canterbury Christ Church University.