New academic building meets with students’ approval

Press Office
View of the building taking shape from the top of the crane

Students and staff at the Canterbury campus have been updated about the plans for a new £26 million academic building to be completed next year.

Students, researchers, academics and administrative staff of the Kent Business School (KBS) and School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (SMSAS) will move into the new building early in 2017.

Representatives from the University, the architect and contractor answered questions on the development at an exhibition where a new 3D ‘fly through’ computer model was shown to provide an insight into the completed building.

Undergraduate, Elizabeth Lucas, said: ‘I just think it looks really good. There’s a stocks and shares board which is really cool.  The social areas will make a huge difference.  I like the way there are tables and chairs in the lecture theatres. When there are bits you want to discuss and group work, it’s good to be able to talk to other people easily.’

Osama Sabir, who is in his 3rd year at Kent, said: ‘As an international student, I looked at videos and it’s a big factor when choosing which university. I think new students will be very excited when they see it. They are lucky that they will be studying in that building.’

Denise Everitt, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University, said it is committed to investing in first class academic facilities for its students. She said: ‘This new development will allow two of our biggest schools to expand further and provide a modern, collaborative space for students and staff to work in.The mix of formal and informal spaces will also mean increased interaction with business and research partners, which will benefit students in terms of employability.’

The University appointed landscape and ecology specialists to consider how the building responds to the woodland setting, and the development will minimise ecological impact by creating new woodland and habitats on University land nearby. Willmott Dixon, were selected to build the new academic facility.

The facility features an eye-catching façade of autumnal coloured anodised curtain walling and has a minimum BREEAM score of ‘Excellent’ to recognise it’s sustainable and low energy credentials. BREEAM is the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings.

The University of Kent has a £238m capital investment programme over the next 5 years that builds on its current strong performance in national league tables and improving world rankings.