A Gloucestershire university has celebrated a construction milestone.
Hartpury University saw the 'University Learning Hub' reach its highest point of construction.
Staff and governors from Hartpury University were joined at the topping out ceremony by Mark Harper MP, representatives from the Forest of Dean District Council and construction teams.
Led by Vitruvius Management Services, designed by architects Roberts Limbrick and built by Halsall Construction, the project is part-funded from the Government’s Levelling Up initiative – a successful partnership bid led by Forest of Dean District Council.
The university said that the building will be "instrumental" in unlocking both staff and student growth as well as attracting local talent.
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The curved structure of the £12.75m building has taken shape and attendees gathered on the roof following a tour of the under-construction hub that covers around 3048m2.
The two-storey space will feature open place on the ground floor for collaboration and relaxation with the addition of Costa Coffee at the Red and Black café or via the self-service kitchen. The building will also be home to support services including the innovation, careers and enterprise (ICE) team, academic registry and student services.
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Whereas the first floor will offer quiet places to study and modern classrooms, plus library. The building will be accessible to students 24/7, 365 days a year.
Green roofing and landscaping will ensure the building helps local biodiversity and respects the environment. In addition, it will provide a warm, welcoming environment for students to access and study and is part of a wider package to help students with the overall cost of living.
Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, MP for Forest of Dean District Council and secretary of state for transport, said: “It’s been fantastic to work with Hartpury through its journey from a college-only institution to the university and college we see today. I’d like to thank all of the organisations involved for working in partnership on this project and I look forward to seeing it again when it reaches completion.”
Mark Price, managing director of Vitruvius Management Services added: “We’re pleased to be able to share this construction milestone with our client Hartpury, architects Roberts Limbrick, Halsall Construction, and the wider team. I look forward to the delivery of this modern facility to future-proof Hartpury’s built environment, supporting the high-quality education establishment to fulfil their strategic vision.”
The Hartpury University Learning Hub is expected to reach completion during the 2023/24 academic year.
Hartpury has also marked the completion of a new car park that has added 32 electrical charging points within a 353-space parking area.
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