New University Building Set to Open After Easter

A brand-new building is set to open at the University of Worcester, marking a major milestone in the development of the University’s Severn Campus for Health, Well-Being and Inclusive Sport.

The Duke’s Building, named for the University’s long-serving Chancellor, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, is a three-storey flexible teaching space designed to cater for health professional students across a variety of courses as they train to become the next generation of nurses, doctors, paramedics, occupational therapists, sports and exercise scientists, physiotherapists, physician associates and more.

It features clinical skills rooms and sport and exercise science laboratories, as well as space for teaching and learning.

Professor Sally Moyle, Pro Vice Chancellor for Health and Science, said: “We are delighted with this fantastic modern, specialist teaching building.”

She continued: “There are some great spaces in the building, including a very large skills lab with room for students to do their skills and simulation work. There is space for large groups to work alongside each other which means that we can have students of different disciplines working together which will really help develop their professional understanding and expertise.”

The new building is already served by extensive car and cycle parking and is immediately adjacent to one of the largest publicly available electric vehicle charging points outside the motorway network.

During the design phase, the project team engaged extensively with academics, professionals and student representatives to ensure the building met the specific needs of its users.

Professor Moyle said: “The students will be really thrilled to use this new high-tech building. We’ve consulted with students and staff as we’ve gone through the process, and student groups have been able to come in and see what it’s like already.”

She added: “The building is very high-tech and is designed for students to have everything they need to do their theory and practical work in one place.”

This latest development joins multi-award-winning buildings on the Severn Campus, including the University of Worcester Arena and the Elizabeth Garrett-Anderson building, home to the Three Counties Medical School.

It contributes to the transformation of the former declining and derelict Hylton Road Industrial Estate into a vibrant and exciting University campus with a focus on health, wellbeing, and inclusive sport.

Professor David Green CBE DL, the University’s Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive said: “The University now produces well over 1,000 new top-quality graduates a year to go into the health professions.”

He continued: “These graduates are vital for the NHS in our region. We are very grateful to the Office for Students for their grant towards the costs of constructing this new building, which was constructed on time and on budget.”

He added: “We are very grateful to the principal contractors, Speller Metcalfe and all the construction professionals who have worked to create this new building which will do so much good for so many years to come.”