Work on a new £8.15 million social space hub for students at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is now complete.

Designed by AHR, the project includes a brand new facility linking existing Harrington and Greenbank buildings, and a single storey extension to the Foster Building.

The scheme has been developed as part of the first phase of UCLan's five-year £200m 'Masterplan'. In addition to glass roofs and enclosed gardens, the social spaces have been created to further improve the campus experience for UCLan students and staff, encouraging them to work and socialise together in a modern and relaxed environment.

AHR headed up a 13-strong design team on the project, which included representatives from the University’s Student Union – giving users direct input into how the spaces would look and feel.

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Robert Hopkins, AHR Regional Director, said: "This has been a truly collaborative project that has put the needs of students at the heart of the design. It was exciting to work with the Student Union to ensure that the spaces delivered exactly what they want, resulting in a campus they will stay on for longer and a better experience overall.

"With approximately 2,000sq m of extra internal floor space, the new facilities will really open up the campus and provide plenty of breakout and recreation spaces for students and staff. The furniture can also be reconfigured to suit their needs. Additionally it will create a strong sense of place and we believe will be a real community hub.

"The University clearly understands and appreciates that engagement with students is key to its vision for the future, delivered through a forward-thinking Masterplan that will also benefit the city of Preston and its people."

David Taylor, Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the University Board, said: "The opening of the social spaces marks the beginning of a new era here at UCLan, one that has certainly set the bar very high for the rest of our exciting Campus Masterplan.

"The new social hubs are outstanding facilities of which we can all be proud, providing integrated spaces where staff and students from different disciplines can mix and meet. It’s exciting to have completed the first phase of our five-year Masterplan, which will serve the needs and ambitions of our University, city and region for many decades to come."

(LM/MH)