Investing in our campus for the future

We’re creating new teaching, social and research spaces for our students, staff and the local community

As part of our Estates Vision for the future, we’re renovating our campus to make improvements, create flexible new spaces and provide an environment that supports the first class learning experience on offer at Abertay.

In 2022, we added the fantastic Annie Lamont building to our facilities on campus, offering a large new café and social space for students, in addition to the Abertay cyberQuarter – three floors of accommodation for cybersecurity learning, research, innovation and industry collaboration.

We have also upgraded classrooms and labs throughout the main Kydd Building and added new exterior cladding to the north-facing side of the University, creating a new landmark for the city.

The Junction social space on level 2 has provided a new area for students to socialise and study and we’ve also upgraded other rooms where students and staff can choose come together, or base themselves for some quiet reading or studying.

 

What’s the next steps?

We are now focusing on proposals which have potential for a hugely positive impact for our campus and the University community. The initial concept designs show the type of developments that might be possible if we are successful in securing the external funding that will be required to move forward.  

At this stage, these outline sketches are intended to spark ideas and discussion within Abertay and the local community and there will be many opportunities to help shape the final plans during a period of wider engagement and consultation, should our funding application be successful. 

A possible health, wellbeing and social hub built on the main car park

This concept image shows an example of how the site of the main staff car park could become the heart of the campus. Under this design, the intention would be to provide space that can be used for teaching and research linked to many of our academic programmes, in addition to an area for socialising and an inviting entry point that draws in not just students and staff, but members of our local community. Importantly, this element of the vision would dovetail with Dundee City Council’s plans for a Green Transport Hub on the site of the Bell Street multistorey car park and would mean the road between the Library and the Kydd Building could potentially become a pedestrian plaza. 

A possible ‘Green Courtyard’ in the Old College car park

This second concept area shows the car park to the rear of the Old College (accessed through the tunnel off Bell Street) as a Green Courtyard offering a new outdoor space for staff and students. Initial concept ideas include areas for growing food and encouraging biodiversity, as well as having a space that can be used to host outdoor events. 

A possible new Energy Centre on site of Baxter/Graham buildings

A crucial part of the vision will be the creation of a new Energy Centre, which would potentially see works carried out to the Baxter and Graham buildings. This would include upgrading and replacing our outdated infrastructure and, importantly, adding the capacity for our heating systems to potentially become part of a new heat network with neighbouring public or private buildings. By doing this we could open the door to significant cost savings and a substantial reduction in carbon footprint for the University and the wider area of the city centre. 

We very much hope to secure the funding that we need to deliver all elements of this exciting project. As we move forward there will be many opportunities to help shape the details of the vision, and we look forward to engaging on these.

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