New £8.15m '˜social spaces' to boost campus experience

New social spaces for the University of Central Lancashire could be completed as early as autumn 2017 after planning permission was granted by Preston City Council.
Shape of things to come at UCLanShape of things to come at UCLan
Shape of things to come at UCLan

Work on the £8.15m spaces, one of the first projects within the University’s £200m masterplan, is set to start in early December.

The new buildings will improve the campus experience and provide a place for staff and students to come together in a relaxed environment.

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A single storey ground floor extension will be added to the university’s existing Foster Building and will include areas for break-out activities and informal spaces for social learning.

A similar facility will also be created linking together Harrington and Greenbank buildings, and both are being developed with the Students’ Union and as a direct result of student feedback.

Michael Ahern, chief operating officer for UCLan, said: “The social spaces project is one of several designed to achieve our aim of creating a connected, vibrant campus in the heart of the city.

“The new facilities will mean that staff and students have all the more reason to visit and stay on campus for longer, and will increase interaction and collaboration between staff and the student community.

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“The approval is another important milestone for our masterplan and we look forward to work beginning on site over the coming weeks.”

Multi-award winning architecture practice AHR has provided the design for the spaces, and will head up a 13-strong design team, made up of representatives from UCLan, which will establish input and ownership from the people who will use the spaces. The masterplan will be delivered over the next 10 years.