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Library refurbishment continues rolling programme of investment

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ has completed the impressive £7m refurbishment of its library, reinforcing its commitment to creating the best possible student and learning experience.

It follows the University’s announcement of its £300m campus masterplan which provides a blueprint for how the campus will develop over the next decade. The £7m library refurbishment began in 2016 and has been completed in time for the new academic year. The new-look library was unveiled at an official opening event as part of Libraries Week – a national showcase of all activities that UK libraries have to offer.

The £7m library refurbishment includes a range of flexible, technology-enabled, individual and group learning spaces, improved IT provision, new lighting and ventilation and additional digital support. There will also be a return to 24/7 opening following a successful trial earlier this year.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s library regularly receives positive feedback from students, scoring highly in the annual National Student Survey and International Student Barometer. This is the second phase of refurbishment with over £2m invested in 2012.

Professor Paul Croney, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of º£½ÇÖ±²¥, said: 'Our library is one of the focal points of the campus and this latest investment demonstrates further our commitment to providing an outstanding student and learning experience.

'I am sure that new and returning students will be impressed by the improvements to the library and the environment will help inspire them to succeed in their academic studies.

'º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is committed to investing in its estate and the library refurbishment is one of many important developments that will take place over the coming years as part of our campus masterplan.'

Liz Jolly, Director of Student and Library Services, added: 'The library is a key element of the student experience at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and this investment helps us to offer a space which is a focus for learning, research and collaboration.

'We are delighted to be opening the newly refurbished library for our students and staff during Libraries Week, which is a time to celebrate all the creative, innovative and diverse work that takes place in our libraries.'

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ launched its ambitious campus masterplan last month which will see £300m invested to transform the campus over the next 10 years.

Plans include a £10m Student Life Building to bring all student facing services together in one location, significant transformation of student accommodation, the first phase of developing a new home for º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Business School, as well as the £22m National Horizons Centre, a biomedical research, education and skills facility at the University’s Darlington campus. Due to open in spring 2019, the Centre will also benefit from a £17.5m contribution from the Local Growth Fund through Tees Valley Combined Authority.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ has demonstrated a continued commitment to improving its estate and the Masterplan builds upon the £270m already invested in the campus in recent years – taking spending on the campus infrastructure beyond half a billion pounds.

Projects recently completed include the award-winning Campus Heart, the £22m teaching and learning building The Curve, a £6m redevelopment of Orion and Stephenson buildings to provide state-of-the art science and engineering facilities, a £1.1m redevelopment of the Students’ Union and the new £2.75m health and fitness centre; The Gym.

• campus development
• student experience