Royal opening: University’s know-how the focus at new building launch…
Coventry University is set to showcase its expertise later this week as Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal formally opens its £55 million engineering and computing facility on campus.
The new home for the University’s Faculty of Engineering and Computing has been used by students since September, but the state-of-the-art building will get royal attention on Friday 8th February for its official opening.
The striking, eco-friendly structure, which houses an impressive array of high-tech equipment, is symbolic of the University’s ongoing commitment to invest in our engineering future and support technology-based companies.
The building’s design, from the way that classrooms and laboratories are arranged to the way that cutting-edge technology is used throughout, also reflects the University’s innovative approach to teaching and learning which is firmly focused on preparing students for successful careers.
With the University having a long track record of working closely with business, the engineering and computing team is confident that the new facility will further enhance its entrepreneurial standing and increase still further the joint research and development projects with industry.
Her Royal Highness will see for herself the award-winning work in a variety of disciplines, including humanitarian engineering. The University’s endeavours in this area saw a team of its undergraduates emerge victorious in a prestigious competition run by charity Engineers Without Borders (EWB).
The Princess Royal will be shown the engineering students’ winning design concept for a community and health centre in one of southern India’s poorest areas.
Staff and students will also highlight the partnership work the University is carrying out with EWB and the Royal Academy of Engineering to establish an advisory board to steer the faculty’s efforts to create a new charity to support global humanitarian engineering initiatives.
Other key features of the new Engineering and Computing building which will be demonstrated to the Princess Royal include:
§ a 2,000 square metre, £3 million high performance engineering centre with a Harrier Jump Jet aircraft and three flight simulators;
§ a one-fifth scale wind tunnel designed and built by the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team;
§ a £2.6m ERDF-sponsored centre to support SMEs around the UK with the development of sustainable construction technologies;
§ a high-tech games laboratory featuring the latest 3D games development equipment.
Paul Ivey, dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing at Coventry University, said:
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal to formally open our new engineering and computing facility.
“We believe that our new building will strengthen our position as a forward-thinking, innovative University. We produce graduates who meet industry’s exacting demands by applying fresh and original approaches to teaching and learning, investing in state-of-the-art equipment and building close links with business. This philosophy underpins the whole look and feel of the new building.”
The distinctive, modern building, designed by Arup Associates and built by Vinci Construction, is part of the University’s ongoing multimillion pound redevelopment plan for the city centre campus.
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Tags: Arup Associates, Business Information Portal, Coventry University, Engineers Without Borders, ERDF, Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Royal Academy of Engineering, SMEs, The BIP, Vinci Construction, West Midlands BIP
