The final stage of the University’s Campus Central regeneration opened on Monday.
The new three-storey building will now be home to the Student Services Hub, the Macrobert Arts Centre’s box office, the Institute for Advanced Studies.
The Macrobert Centre’s box office and the new Student Services Hub will be located on the ground floor.
A new coffee and sub sandwich outlet will also open.
‘SUP’ which is located on the second floor will sell sandwiches similar to those of popular chain Subway. A variety of lunch options will also be available including soup and baked potatoes.
The outlet will also sell breakfast options until 11:30a.m.
The new food venue will open from 8a.m.-5.p.m Monday to Friday.
This is the final stage of the university’s vast campus renovation that also saw new sports facilities, a new atrium refurbishment and a new study zone.
Professor Leigh Sparks, Chair of the Campus Central Project Board said: “We are incredibly excited to see the third and final part of our Campus Central development reach completion and open to students, staff and the wider community.
“We have already seen the benefits from the relocation of the transport hub and the refurbishment of the Atrium.
“Together with the new build, Campus Central has transformed our campus and becomes the heart of the University- encouraging connections and engagement across our communities”
Accessibility was an important aspect of the new development with an Accessibility Reference Group including students with a variety fo disabilities and members of the Student’s Union feeding into the Campus Central Programme from the early stages.
The group visited the new building ahead of its completion.
New accessibility features include increased disabled parking spaces, an enhanced full accessible lift from the ground floor to upper levels, new accessible toilets facilities, private one-to-one consulting rooms for student support and mental health staff, councillors, study skills tutors and careers advisors.
New accessible furniture, including for wheelchair users has been set out to encourage ease of mobility around the space.
A new queue management facility has also been introduced with students being able to book appointments digitally via a QR code and students will be sent a text when their space in the queue opens up.
Assistants will be able to help students who do not have access to the digital service.
Jacqui Lenaghen, Head of Accessibility and Inclusion said: “Campus Central will provide our students, staff and members of the public with an accessible experience, enabling them to navigate safely and seamlessly around the new building and access its wide range of catering outlets, businesses and services- including our Student Services Hub- without having to step outside.
“Accessibility was a key consideration during the planning… Students and our disabled community have been involved from the onset and were integral in influencing all aspects of the build, including furniture, facilities, navigation of the space, and health and safety.
“We are looking forward to Campus Central opening its doors and are excited by the enhanced learning and social experiences and opportunities it will offer our campus community.”
Feature Image Credit: Mark Ferguson Photographer
Journalism and Politics student// Editor-in-Chief 2021/22
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