£10 million for world class learning, teaching and research facility

Named The Exchange, this pioneering resource will be created as a result of £4.37 million from HEFCE (the Higher Education Funding Council for England), £3 million from the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme, £1 million from South West RDA (Regional Development Agency), and a combined investment of almost £2 million from UCF and UoE.

UoE and UCF, who are founding partners in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) – a unique initiative to promote regional economic regeneration through Higher Education – share and jointly manage the Tremough Campus in an arrangement that is unique in the UK.

The Exchange will support the growth of the student population on campus following three other recent multi million pound investments at the Penryn site – UCF’s recently launched Performance Centre and emerging Academy for Innovation & Research (AIR), and UoE’s Environment & Sustainability Institute (ESI).

With a current combined UoE/UCF population of approximately 4,000 students at the Tremough Campus, it is estimated that these significant developments will result in an increase of around 1,000 students by 2016.

Steve Smith, UoE Vice Chancellor & Chief Executive, said: “This exciting new development is a vital step forward for the Tremough Campus.  It will raise facilities to a new level, improving the quality of the student experience and providing a cutting-edge resource for learning.  Alongside our £30 million Environment & Sustainability Institute, it will help us fulfil our ambitions to create a world class centre for study, research and enterprise around the theme of sustainability.”

The Exchange increases the capacity of the existing Learning Resource Centre (LRC) at Tremough.  A ‘social street’ will run through the building to provide a series of informal learning environments and link the existing LRC to a range of distinctive new spaces that reflect the needs of 21st century students – from a collaborative lecture theatre and learning lab for ideas exploration to ‘eddy’ spaces for small group learning and exhibition areas for display.

“The Exchange will be the kind of space where conversations begin in lecture theatres and carry on in informal settings; where people gather spontaneously as well as intentionally; where students study and reflect as well as receive information and support,” explained UCF’s Rector & Chief Executive, Professor Anne Carlisle.  “In an increasingly competitive market, the quality of learning resources will be a key element in student choice.  It is therefore vital that we offer facilities that provide the best possible student experience and reflect UCF’s determination to become one of the top five multi-arts universities in the world.”

The Exchange building, due to be ready for occupancy in August 2012, has been designed to a BREEAM Excellent rating – a measure of environmental sustainability – and will feature natural lighting and ventilation.