Capital Development Programme
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Queen's vibrant campus continues to be enhanced through a £300 million capital development programme. Flagship projects include the new McClay Library and the redevelopment of the Elms Student Village.
Work on the Health Sciences campus (HSC) in support of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences is continuing, with the ongoing development of a Clinical Research Facility, a Centre for Vision and Vascular Science Research Centre and a Clinical Skills Simulation Education Centre. The Whitla Medical Building at the MBC and buildings at the Royal Victoria Hospital site have undergone major refurbishment; and the fit-out of the Health Sciences Building and a 6-storey extension to the Medical Biology Centre (the latter to support the consolidation of Nursing and Midwifery on the HSC) have also been completed.
On the David Keir/Ashby site (the main centre for Engineering and Physical Sciences), the refurbishment of teaching and research laboratories is also continuing - the phased refurbishment of the Ashby Building is underway, with the objective of creating facilities to support a 21st century student-centred approach to engineering education.
Following a review by the Northern Ireland Science and Industry Panel of the needs of the engineering industry in Northern Ireland, Queen’s, in partnership with the University of Ulster and local industry partners, have created a new purpose-built Northern Ireland Centre for Advanced Composite Research. This provides a research facility of circa 3,400m2 GIA.
Construction of a new Executive Education Centre at Riddel Hall, an early 20th century listed property set in mature landscape and located half a mile from the University’s main campus has now been completed, creating a landmark building for the delivery of postgraduate and executive education across all subject areas. It is also the location for the Queen’s University Management School.
To support the student experience, a programme of creating ‘transition zones’ and social spaces generally within foyer areas, and often in close proximity to catering provision, has been implemented. A major new facility – the MBC café - was completed in 2010. Other facilities have been created in the Peter Froggatt Centre, the Elmwood Learning and Teaching Centre, the David Keir and Ashby buildings, and University Square.
To meet the particular needs of postgraduate students, and to support the increasing numbers of international students, a new Postgraduate Student Centre offering dedicated high quality study, social and support space opened in summer 2010. In further recognition of the different expectations of postgraduate and international students, a discrete courtyard residential development on the Elms Student Village site is under construction. It will provide 257 study bedrooms in 121 apartments, ranging from one to four bed units specifically for this student cohort.
A multi-million pound investment in the University’s outdoor sports facilities, located two miles from the main campus on the Dub site at Upper Malone, has also been undertken. This major redevelopment has provided a new clubhouse, integrated stand and floodlit arena pitch located adjacent to a new main entrance, changing pavilions, floodlit 3G and sand based synthetic pitches, a 5-a-side soccer centre, enhanced turf pitches and a trim trail.
