An unusual time capsule, locked for the next 50 years, has marked the opening of the Templeman Library’s new West Wing.
The time capsule is actually the desk used by the University’s first Registrar Eric Fox. The desk is one of the few items of furniture that has been at the University since its opening just over 50 years ago in 1965.
To mark the official opening of the Templeman’s West Wing, Kent staff and students placed items and letters to the future in the drawers and cupboards of the desk, which was then locked. The keys will be hidden in the Library walls until 2066. Meanwhile, the desk will stay in use within the Special Collections and Archives reading room.
Guests at the West Wing opening included Mary Fox, Eric Fox’s widow who herself worked at the University for over 20 years, as well as the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow, other members of the University’s governing body and the local community. Opening speeches were given by Denise Everitt, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, John Sotillo, Director of Information Services and, representing students, Tammy Naidoo, President of Kent Union.
Completion of the West Wing marks the end of the first phase of the major £40m redevelopment of the Templeman Library in the centre of the University’s Canterbury campus. The Wing provides 4,000 sq m of flexible space, including an exhibition gallery, seminar rooms and 250-seat lecture theatre. Work has now begun on Phase 2 of the Templeman Library project to reconfigure the central area of the existing building, followed by a final phase to redevelop the upper areas.
Commenting on the project, Denise Everitt said: ‘The University of Kent is enjoying considerable success at present – underlined by our excellent rankings in both the Research Excellence Framework and recent university league tables. We have an ambitious new strategic plan that is backed by investment in our academic activity in order to enhance our offer to students and support our staff and students in their research endeavours. A key part of that plan is continued investment in key academic buildings such as the Templeman – the biggest single building project funded by the University.’
Tammy Naidoo added: ‘The University has taken consultation with students very seriously throughout this project. It’s a great example of students being placed at the heart of a project and the University really talking to its students.’
Further information on the Templeman project, including the West Wing opening and time capsule placement, is available on the Library webpages.