A Hothouse of Creativity and Enterprise: the Vision behind University’s New City Centre Campus
A hothouse of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial activity that will be an essential element of the city’s regeneration – that’s the aim of the vibrant new multi-million pound City Centre Campus being planned by the University of Wales, Newport, which moved a step closer this week with the appointment of a building contractor to prepare the site.
Contractors HBG will be moving onto the site on the banks of the River Usk in Newport city centre to conduct initial site clearing work.
"We are moving towards the development of an entrepreneurial university and the idea of working closely with business and the creative industries is a fundamental concept of the new City Centre Campus," said Chris O’Malley, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Regional and International Development).
"The University’s new City Centre Campus will feature an innovative Hothouse at its core where designers, media specialists, business researchers and entrepreneurs will work together and spark off each other to create new commercial ideas to help drive entrepreneurship and creativity in the regeneration of the city," added Chris.
Commenting on the striking design of the proposed new campus building, designed by architects BDP, Professor Anne Carlisle, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), said, "The Hothouse will stand out in the building’s profile as a distinctive zone, suspended from the ceiling and connected by walkways. It will capitalise on the University’s greatest asset - its people and ideas.
"The building will be physically transparent and open to the city, rather than being enclosed behind high walls. Not only will it be possible to see right through the building, but visitors to Newport will be encouraged to come in and see a wealth of artistic and creative exhibitions that will be constantly on display. The new campus will help to make clear to visitors to our City that Newport is home to a unique university with an international reputation," added Professor Carlisle.
The new campus will house Newport Business School and the design, film and digital media aspects of the Newport School of Art, Media and Design. Newport’s Business School recently came top in the UK for its level of student satisfaction and the Newport School of Art, Media and Design benefits from an international reputation for its innovative courses and research.
The Chief Executive of Newport Unlimited, John Burrows, commented, "The new city centre campus for the University of Wales, Newport will transform the look and feel of Newport’s city centre. It will bring excitement, activity and a striking new building to Newport’s riverfront. The University’s riverfront development is one of the key projects in transforming the centre of Newport and of regenerating the whole city. The City Centre Campus will contribute an enormous amount to making Newport a real city with the buzz and diversity of activity that the students and staff will bring to the city environment."
The £35m campus, situated on the banks of the River Usk, will be the first phase of an intended £50m development for the University with partnership funding from Newport City Council, the Welsh Assembly Government and Newport Unlimited. The University’s aim is that the new campus will transform the city centre by becoming a magnet for cultural activity along the riverfront and a centre for enterprise that embraces a contemporary arts centre, extensive exhibition space and a national photographic archive.
Tracing its roots back to 1841, the University of Wales, Newport today is a two-campus university. The current Allt-yr-yn Campus will be sold to part-fund the new development in the City Centre, while the other campus at Caerleon will remain. The innovative new campus, which will be completed in 2010 to coincide with the Ryder Cup coming to Newport, will add vibrancy to the city centre and give a vital boost to the local economy.
A Hothouse of Creativity and Enterprise: the Vision behind University’s New City Centre Campus
15/01/08
A hothouse of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial activity that will be an essential element of the city’s regeneration – that’s the aim of the vibrant new multi-million pound City Centre Campus being planned by the University of Wales, Newport, which moved a step closer this week with the appointment of a building contractor to prepare the site.
Contractors HBG will be moving onto the site on the banks of the River Usk in Newport city centre to conduct initial site clearing work.
"We are moving towards the development of an entrepreneurial university and the idea of working closely with business and the creative industries is a fundamental concept of the new City Centre Campus," said Chris O’Malley, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Regional and International Development).
"The University’s new City Centre Campus will feature an innovative Hothouse at its core where designers, media specialists, business researchers and entrepreneurs will work together and spark off each other to create new commercial ideas to help drive entrepreneurship and creativity in the regeneration of the city," added Chris.
Commenting on the striking design of the proposed new campus building, designed by architects BDP, Professor Anne Carlisle, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), said, "The Hothouse will stand out in the building’s profile as a distinctive zone, suspended from the ceiling and connected by walkways. It will capitalise on the University’s greatest asset - its people and ideas.
"The building will be physically transparent and open to the city, rather than being enclosed behind high walls. Not only will it be possible to see right through the building, but visitors to Newport will be encouraged to come in and see a wealth of artistic and creative exhibitions that will be constantly on display. The new campus will help to make clear to visitors to our City that Newport is home to a unique university with an international reputation," added Professor Carlisle.
The new campus will house Newport Business School and the design, film and digital media aspects of the Newport School of Art, Media and Design. Newport’s Business School recently came top in the UK for its level of student satisfaction and the Newport School of Art, Media and Design benefits from an international reputation for its innovative courses and research.
The Chief Executive of Newport Unlimited, John Burrows, commented, "The new city centre campus for the University of Wales, Newport will transform the look and feel of Newport’s city centre. It will bring excitement, activity and a striking new building to Newport’s riverfront. The University’s riverfront development is one of the key projects in transforming the centre of Newport and of regenerating the whole city. The City Centre Campus will contribute an enormous amount to making Newport a real city with the buzz and diversity of activity that the students and staff will bring to the city environment."
The £35m campus, situated on the banks of the River Usk, will be the first phase of an intended £50m development for the University with partnership funding from Newport City Council, the Welsh Assembly Government and Newport Unlimited. The University’s aim is that the new campus will transform the city centre by becoming a magnet for cultural activity along the riverfront and a centre for enterprise that embraces a contemporary arts centre, extensive exhibition space and a national photographic archive.
Tracing its roots back to 1841, the University of Wales, Newport today is a two-campus university. The current Allt-yr-yn Campus will be sold to part-fund the new development in the City Centre, while the other campus at Caerleon will remain. The innovative new campus, which will be completed in 2010 to coincide with the Ryder Cup coming to Newport, will add vibrancy to the city centre and give a vital boost to the local economy.
