New students arrive at flagship building

The first students to reap the benefits of Buckinghamshire New University’s new flagship building, the Gateway, arrived on Monday 21 September.

The new state-of-the-art complex at the High Wycombe Campus offers a range of new facilities, including an events hall, gym, dance and drama studios, music and video production suites, a high-tech learning resources centre and meeting rooms. Members of the wider community will be able to make use of facilities including a Sports & Fitness Centre and the library.

Prof Ruth Farwell, Vice Chancellor of Bucks New University said: “Enhancing the experiences of our students is one of our key objectives, and providing first class facilities will enable us to provide a learning environment befitting a modern, forward-thinking and innovative institution. The Gateway building is a physical reminder of our development as a university over the last couple of years. It also marks our presence at the heart of the High Wycombe community, and we look forward to welcoming new students and members of the public who will be able to make use of this amazing new facility.”

The University’s vision was to create a sustainable and contemporary building that provides facilities for the whole student body and contrasts with the existing campus architecture to establish a new and distinctive identity. The mix of facilities will enable interaction between students from a variety of disciplines, and the building’s architecture is designed to create a memorable ‘gateway’ to the University and High Wycombe, enhancing the way both are perceived.

Tom Foy, President of Bucks Students’ Union said: “We are all looking forward to making full use of the Gateway over the coming academic year. I am sure it will help provide a fantastic start to university for the freshers that are joining us, and will provide fresh inspiration for our returning students and employees.”  

Designed by RMJM Architects, and built by BAM Construction, the new building is part of an extensive programme of rebuilding and refurbishment, which also includes the provision of up-to-date teaching rooms and social space, a Student Centre to deal with students’ queries, and improved resources for the University's faculties.

With the completion of the Gateway, the majority of the University’s provision is now based in the centre of High Wycombe. New students will also be benefitting from new student accommodation in Hughenden Avenue, High Wycombe. The accommodation, on the site of the old CompAir factory, provides 234 en-suite rooms, communal kitchens/lounges, an office, and a launderette.

The University’s Nursing programmes and applied healthcare research have moved from Chalfont St Giles to a new building at 106 Oxford Road, Uxbridge. This existing building, refurbished to provide an up-to-date and technology-led learning experience, also opened its doors to new students on Monday 21 September.