Skanska has handed over a new £40 million academic building development to Bath Spa University.

The development of the new 'Commons' building at the University's Newton Park campus is part of a larger investment project the University is undertaking. The new state-of-the-art academic building has a range of teaching facilities, including 1,800 square meters of teaching and learning space and a superb new digital studio and editing suites for teaching media related courses. It also includes a giant two-storey high media wall as well as an outdoor amphitheater, new places for students to socialise and a café. The Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts recently visited the new building and met with students and staff.

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The new building has achieved an excellent rating in the BREEAM system of measuring the environmental friendliness of buildings. A biomass boiler in the separate energy center is the main source of heating. Rainwater harvesting and solar panels help the building to be as green as possible.

The University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Christina Slade said: "We are in the process of implementing exciting plans over the next few years. The current building project is a good illustration of how we are constantly improving what we offer to students."

Skanska will be on site until the end of March 2014 fitting out fixed furniture. The building is due to open to students in April 2014.

(CD)