What does the Student Heart Project involve?
The student Heart Project will be delivered in two phases.
Student Heart Phase One focused on the Library through to the Student Bar and Hall and the surrounding external areas.
The project improved the existing infrastructure through better interior and exterior design, enhanced externa; spaces and increased flexibility for uses.
You can find out more on the phase one project page.
Phase two will include the construction of a new entrance into J Block, installation of a new mezzanine floor in the Hall. internal refurbishment and refurbishment of the J Block toilets, and external landscaping works.
You can keep up to date with the progress of the project on our dedicated phase two page.
The University’s main campus comprises of a wide range of buildings of different ages and construction. The central area of the main campus, between the sports fields and piazza has buildings that are largely standalone with no inter relationship either physically or between the uses within them.
Student Heart will bring buildings together, not just physically but by developing a coherent flow of users, improving student facilities and their experience.
The project will focus on the area shown below, principally focusing on the Library through to the Student Bar and Hall and the surrounding external areas.
The project will improve existing infrastructure through better interior and exterior design, enhanced external spaces and increasing flexibility of uses.
This is expected to:
- Provide an excellent student experience and assist retention by providing modern fit for purpose spaces for a wide variety of students to learn and relax;
- support recruitment by enhancing the appeal and the look of the campus;
- support the widening participation agenda through provision of touch down and day facilities for students who do not live on campus.
In summary, the buildings in scope are:
- Library (ground floor)
- Dolce Vita
- J block ground floor including careers
- Bar and hall
The external areas in scope are:between the buildings and the athletics track; Student Square; the “corridors” leading from Student Square between the theatre workshop and J block and along past careers.
Like with all major development projects there will inevitably be some noise and disruption as the works progress. We’re working closely with our contractors to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.
The latest information and regular updates about the project will be posted on this web page, and shared via Staff and Student communication channels.
We welcome your feedback. Please contact the University’s Estates team, by emailing estates@stmarys.ac.uk.