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University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU

Postgraduate centre

Postgraduate and CPD Centre Q&A

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When will construction start?

Demolition of Europa House started in May 2011 and will be complete by June 2011. Tenders for the construction contract are ongoing and an appointment will be made to the successful tenderer at the end of August 2011. Construction will then start in September 2011 and is scheduled to be complete by December 2012. There will then be a commissioning period to move into the new building and a scheduled opening date in February 2013.

Webcam - Construction of the postgraduate centre

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What is happening with archaeology on the site?

An initial archeological investigation took place in early 2011 and reported it was likely that there were findings of historical significance on the site. A further dig is scheduled after the demolition of Europa House (during June/July 2011) to investigate the site further.

When is the Postgraduate and CPD Centre going to open?

Planning permission was granted in June 2011 and the building is scheduled to open for students in February 2013.

What will the building look like?

Latest artist's impressions of the Postgraduate and CPD Centre (March 2011)

 

What will be in the building?

The building will be the home for the University's postgraduate students and a centre for continuing professional development (CPD) students from industry. The building will include:

  • 4,254m2 of space over 5 storeys.
  • State of the art IT and AV equipment.
  • Lecture theatres including two Harvard-style lecture theatres.
  • Informal learning spaces.
  • High level bridge links to the H Block of the Business School.
  • Quiet study areas.
  • Café.
  • Student lounge.
  • Current plans give a 63.8% of teaching space to other areas (social and support areas).

How much will it cost?

The project budget is £19.6 million. This includes:

  • Demolition of the old Students' Union building.
  • Construction of the new Postgraduate Centre.
  • High level bridge links to the Business School H Block.
  • Landscaping of grass area in front of the Business School.
  • Recladding of the Business School.
  • Traffic calming measures on Vicarage Street.

Why is the University building a Postgraduate Centre?

  • Most current postgraduate teaching takes place at Putteridge Bury which, despite its attractive setting, lacks a truly modern professional environment experience. In addition, students need to be transported there and back by coach. The growth in postgraduate numbers is also causing capacity issues at Putteridge Bury.
  • Postgraduate student numbers are expected to grow further over the coming years so teaching accommodation for these students is required.
  • The Browne Review of Higher Education has identified the need for income from outside of undergraduate, home-fee paying students.
  • The University has committed itself to a strategy of growing its continuing professional development (CPD) offering and building a professional, high-quality teaching environment will attract CPD delegates from industry.
  • Integrating the whole campus via bridge links will improve sustainability and maximise use of the Campus Centre.

What will happen to teaching at Putteridge Bury when the Postgraduate Centre opens?

  • Putteridge Bury will continue to accommodate postgraduate teaching alongside the Postgraduate Centre. No decision has been made, however, about how the teaching will be allocated to either site. This is to be developed over the coming months and communicated as decisions are made.

The brief given to our designers is:

  • A safe and secure environment for users
  • Compatible with the local townscape
  • Flexible - to meet changing needsof the business
  • Longevity - utility and aesthetic appear beyond today's 'fashion'
  • Sustainable: have regard to building lifetime costs and environmental impact
  • Provide a range of environments through design of form and texture, to suit the differing requirements of learners
  • Improving the student experience through high quality, without excessive cost
  • A warm and friendly atmosphere being especially welcoming at entrances
  • A visible and easy-to-find main entrance
  • Develops a sense of community
  • Noise-reducing surfaces to reduce noise
  • Inspiring for our students
  • Low maintenance costs
  • Gives message of 'university-ness', i.e. not a school or college
  • Vibrant
  • Attractive to many cultures
  • Avoiding blandness, mindful of selecting neutral or the lowest common denominator

How environmentally-friendly will the building be?

The project team are currently aiming towards a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’ and are fully committed to designing the most energy efficient building and services to meet the university’s needs.

The BREEAM family of assessment methods and tools are all designed to help construction professionals understand and mitigate the environmental impacts of the developments they design and build.

The building will also have minimal carbon emissions.

How is the project being managed?

  • The University has formed a Project Board chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, External Relations. The Project Board consists of senior management who have a key interest in the project. The Project Board is accountable to the Board of Governors, meets monthly and is minuted formally.
  • The Project Board's job is to provide strategic leadership for the project on behalf of the University and to monitor delivery of the project plan to ensure that objectives are met.
  • The project is managed internally using PRINCE2 project management methodology.
  • The University has identified key stakeholders and is committed to consulting with these stakeholders throughout the project to ensure that the building is fit for purpose. There are a series of sub-boards consisting of key stakeholders who will meet to develop and agree plans for specific areas of the project.
  • The University employs an external design team including project management, architects, cost consultants, electricial engineers, structural engineers plus a further group of sub-contractors who work closely with the University to deliver project objectives.

How is the University managing risks within the project?

Our design team and Project Board have jointly developed a project risk register which lists and categorises all risks to the project using a traffic-light system. Reviews of the register are undertaken regularly and key risks are presented to the Project Board for action.

What disruptions will there be?

Disruption during construction will be kept to a minimum. However, where this is not possible, alternative routes will be clearly indicated. It's not possible at the moment to say when a particular route will be closed but as construction progresses the university or its contractors will communicate any changes to access routes as appropriate.

The project team are committed to minimising construction work during key university periods as exams and graduations and will work to ensure that noise is kept to a minimum.

How can the University afford it?

By the University achieving growing student numbers in accordance with our development plans and successfully controlling expenditure within budget, the university is able to build reserves and demonstrate sound financial management which banks will be willing to lend against.

What does the project mean for local businesses, employers and the wider community?

The new building forms an exciting part of the range of major construction projects in Luton set to renew and refresh the appearance of the town. The building has been designed with local industry in mind as a place where continuing professional development (CPD) can be held and people in industry can continue to develop their skills.

The informal learning spaces are designed to help our students develop the transferable skills they need in their future careers.

Any other questions?

If there is anything else you’d like to know about the project, please complete the form. We will post replies on this site as well as responding to you directly.

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