Sandyford strengthens City Centre campus

Northumbria University, Newcastle, has enhanced its facilities and learning, teaching and research environment for students and staff by acquiring the Sandyford Building from Newcastle College.

The high quality building was extensively refurbished in 2008. It is situated on Northumbria’s city centre campus, but has historically been part of Newcastle College. Its acquisition forms part of the University’s plans to invest £52 million over the next two years, to improve its campus estate and transform the student experience.  This includes creating a new Student Central zone that will bring together all student-facing services, such as careers, welfare and international support to one area in the heart of the campus. Work also includes two new state-of-the-art buildings to bring major benefits for students on computing and information sciences and architecture and built environment courses.

Use of the five-storey property will immediately help the transformation process by making available an excellent teaching and research resource while building work is underway elsewhere across the campus. Plans for the Sandyford Building in the future will further develop Northumbria’s provision for learning, teaching and research.

Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “Acquiring Sandyford campus is excellent news and makes obvious sense because of its location. This also strengthens our wider campus Estates Plan by helping to ensure that we continue to develop a world-class learning environment for our students. The significant improvements in our sector rankings and research strengths in recent years have lifted our international reputation, but they have also raised the expectations of our stakeholders. Continuing to invest in our campus like this is a key part of meeting these expectations, and achieving our vision 2025.”

Tony Lewin, Principal of Newcastle College added: “We are delighted to have worked in partnership with Northumbria University to agree the sale of our Sandyford Building. The agreement benefits both organisations and will allow us to provide the very best learning experience for our students within the Rye Hill campus, but at the same time support Northumbria with its campus development programme. The recent £18m development of our 10 storey Parsons Building has given us the opportunity to bring provision back to our main campus, encouraging more collaboration and providing our students with a wider range of fantastic facilities.”

Since opening City Campus East in 2007, Northumbria University has continued to invest in state-of-the-art facilities for learning, teaching and research. Developments have included multi-million refurbishments of its Library, Students’ Union and Coach Lane campus and the £30 million Sport Central complex.

For more information on the University’s £52 million investment in its Newcastle City Campus, visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/betternorthumbria