The new building is part of long term strategic plan to foster arts and creativity in the region in conjunction with regional local authorities, businesses and employers, creating a central hub which has our talented students at its core.
The new building, opened in early 2014, completed a major investment in teaching and learning facilities for our students, with a particular focus on the public staging, exhibition and performance of student and external artists work.
The new building created a fourth side to the existing Eldon complex, incorporating:
- a large lecture theatre
- new seminar spaces
- outstanding exhibition and event facilities
- extensive social learning facilities
- upgraded workshops and equipment
- enhanced open access IT facilities
The development allowed the university to bring together all staff and students engaged within the creative and cultural industries into one physical space, creating a central hub where interdisciplinary creative practise, development and potential can thrive and inspire.
The extension created an additional 3000 sq m of space dedicated to student work, teaching and learning. The main exhibition space increased by 60 sq m and a new additional exhibition gallery of 46 sq m added to the University’s facilities for its students.
Upgrades and additional workshop equipment including digital fabric printing, additional laser cutters, green screen and camera studios and sound recording studios’ continue to enhance its offering to current and potential students. The physical space, integrated facilities and interdisciplinary teaching and learning philosophy places its course offerings and its graduates, within this field, at the cutting edge of innovative practise and potential employment.
London based architects Penoyre and Prasad, already responsible for the award-winning University library extension, lead the project. Their 20 years of practice has been at the forefront of developing the design of low energy, low environmental impact buildings which help save running costs and which create sustainable, internationally distinguished architecture.