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Topping out ceremony for the University's new graduate college

The topping out ceremony for the University of Kent's new college took place on Monday 2 June at the University's Canterbury campus. The £25m Virginia Woolf College, scheduled for completion in August, will offer first-class ensuite accommodation for 544 graduate students and includes a state-of-the-art 500 seat lecture theatre.

Professor Julia Goodfellow, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kent, carried out the ceremonial 'tightening of the bolt' with Clive Crawford, Chief Executive UPP and Kevin Atkinson, London Major Works Construction Director, Mansell Construction Services Limited.

Professor Julia Goodfellow said: 'This ceremony marked the near completion of the college which is at the heart of our new Graduate School. Led by Professor Diane Houston as its Dean, the School will provide postgraduate students at Kent with a distinct graduate experience.'

The speakers were Andy Bowler, Mansell's Divisional Managing Director (London); Keith Mander, Deputy Vice-Chancellor University of Kent; and Clive Crawford, Chief Executive UPP, who praised Kent's in-house project team, saying that in UPP's extensive experience it had been the best they had come across in the university sector.

The ceremony was hosted by construction contractor Mansell. The college, designed by David Morley Architects, will be owned and operated by UPP Limited, a specialist provider of student residences throughout the UK. The University will be responsible for liaising directly with students in terms of allocating accommodation, administering room licences and also in all pastoral matters.

The ceremony was attended by nearly 80 guests, and among those present at the ceremony were Sir Robert Worcester, University Chancellor; Valerie Marshall, Chair of the University Council; and Mark Allen, Director of Business Management UPP.

Contact: mediaoffice@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 10:33am 6 June 2008