A sense of Deja Vu
I was privileged today (with my colleagues) to be shown around the £90m refurbishment project at Nottingham Trent University. Both Arkwright and Newton buildings are undergoing a massive facelift – and the results are fantastic.
The space between Arkwright and Newton - a social space
It was quite a strange feeling as I was last in Arkwright when I did my HNC in Building Studies between 1981 and 1983. And then in Newton when I did my Degree between 1983 and 1988. I was a perpetual student!
Both buildings are grade II* listed – for quite different reasons. Arkwright was originally a School of Design in 1843 – and famously had D H Lawrence as a student. Newton was built in the 1950’s – and was listed for its external ‘beauty’. The buildings were accidentally thrown together and the connectivity comprised covered walkways – with some fairly basic toilets!
But what is happening is a Sir Michael Hopkins connection – ‘The Link’. And it looks fantastic now – when it is open I think it will be truly inspiring! The spaces being created are being opened up and are light and airy. And I loved the Glulam beams! A new entrance is being created which will feed into the new Link.
There is a business feel to the whole – especially the business school in Newton. But I think the School of Architecture, in particular, will really enjoy their new home. I am sure that Sir Michael will have loved to study in the spaces he is creating. When you think that this part of the building is over 150 years old – and survived an attempt by the Luftwaffe to remodel it – it shows that the original designers got it right. The space was wrecked in the 1970’s by mezzanine creations – but has been opened up to its former glory…
Glulam banana shaped beams!
In the Newton building there is an amazing lecture theatre – which Diarmuid Gavin will be the first lecturer – I am sure he will be impressed too! The long corridors marked out with their grey lines of battered lockers are all gone. Double glazed sound-proofing partitions have replaced the internal walls. Hi Fi and Wi Fi are order of the day – with smart boards. It really is a learning environment fit for the 21st Century.
One of our hosts, Ann Priest Pro VC, said that the environment was really important. Students tend to live their learning life in a bedroom (some good, some bad) – and the University should provide space to ‘live’ outside that bedroom. So the lecture space may be centric to their course, but as important is the social space. The ability to eat / relax away from that bedroom is key. There are lots of social spaces built in – both in and out. And places to ‘hang out’. With wi-fi flooding this will become a home from home.
This really is going to be a jewel in the University’s crown. I just wish they had done this thirty years ago so I could have learned there – now I am feeling old! But I am really pleased that the young people studying now can learn in such inspiring surroundings. And I did learn a lot in the Penthouse bar of the Royal Hotel back in those days! Honest.
