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Minister Leads Topping out Celebrations at New City Campus

01/09/09

Jane Hutt, the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, helped the University of Wales, Newport to celebrate a milestone in the construction of its new multi-million pound campus when she carried out the traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony on the roof of the five-storey development on Monday (24^th August) to signify the building reaching its highest point.

After securing the very highest bolt on the building, which is being built by award-winning construction company Willmott Dixon, the Welsh Assembly Government Minister commented, "This is a great day not just for the people of Newport but for Wales as well. This is what I see as 21^st century higher education, and it’s been exciting to come along to the topping out ceremony for this inspiring innovative and imaginative building. The City Campus is everything we could have hoped and aspired for and I congratulate everyone associated with it.

 

 Jane Hutt, the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, aided by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Graham Rogers, secures the very highest bolt into place on the University's new City Campus

  "This is the result of a partnership - the Welsh Assembly Government supporting the University of Wales, Newport and working with Newport City Council, and Newport Unlimited.  It’s the kind of partnership that we do well in Wales and if we didn’t have those partnerships we wouldn’t be able to come to events like this to see what we’re creating with that £35million investment for higher education here in the heart of Newport.

"The University’s new City Campus will open up new opportunities and access to Higher Education for our communities. Many years ago when I was a community worker in Pill we never imagined that we would ever have Newport’s University here on the waterfront. Today, we’ve been shown the opportunities and resources for our learners and the interaction with business. The new campus will help to close the gap between the haves and have-nots in terms of access to skills, which is why  the University of Wales, Newport is so important, not only here in Newport but also in the heads of the valleys."

Dignitaries from across Newport visited the site on the city’s riverfront to celebrate this significant milestone on the innovative new campus. With the building’s structure now almost finished, work will continue to make it water-tight. Due to be completed in November 2010, the five-storey City Campus will incorporate teaching, research, exhibition and studio spaces as well as a restaurant, library and roof-top Boardroom.

Designed as a ‘hothouse’ of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial activity, the new building’s striking design will be the perfect setting for Newport Business School and the design, film and digital media aspects of Newport School of Art, Media and Design.

 

 Some of those present at the ceremony: (left to right) Kanji Kerai, award-winning project manager, Graham Rogers, Deputy Vice Chancellor at Newport's University, Jane Hutt, the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, Matthew Evans, leader of Newport City Council,  Cllr Glyn Jarvis, the Mayor of Newport, and Paul Flynn MP.

 "We’re delighted and excited to be at the ‘topping out’ stage of the construction of our new Campus," said Graham Rogers, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Newport’s University. "We’re right on track and it’s been wonderful seeing the building grow so quickly, transforming the riverfront site. Today’s celebration represents another major milestone for the University.

"The City Campus is the first project in the area to take shape, and will be opening its doors to students and the public in 2010/11. Heralded as a major part of Newport’s regeneration, its construction is a shining light during these gloomy economic times."

Adrian Brewer, Regional Director for Willmott Dixon, said: "A topping out ceremony is a traditional construction milestone that is believed to bring good luck to the development. It’s a great opportunity to get all involved parties on site to see how the building is taking shape and to feel part of its construction.

"The building is a stunning design that will transform the look of the riverfront. We are using lots of different materials in the build from timber for the research centre and roof to black zinc for the cladding, which will give it a striking appearance. Creating a sustainable building is also very important – the building will have a BREEAM Excellent rating and we will be implementing solar shading, high performance glazing and natural ventilation throughout to achieve this for the University."

A spokesperson for Newport Unlimited commented, ""The University of Wales campus is a major part of our regeneration programme for the City of Newport. Alongside the River Usk, Riverfront Theatre and stunning footbridge it will add to the life and vitality of this central area. Such an iconic building is synonymous with the creativity and leading edge thinking that is associated with the excellent reputation of this well renowned faculty. In difficult economic times it is testament to all involved that the project is on schedule for completion in 2010

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 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.

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