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An aerial tour of campus
The University is in the midst of one of the most exciting and transformational redevelopments since the first phase of building on our Edgbaston campus was completed in 1909. The development projects, worth close to £500 million over a five-year period, are creating outstanding new facilities that will benefit students, staff, visitors and the local community. Pioneering projects at other University sites are also ensuring that our investment is not confined to our main campus. Take an aerial tour around campus in the above video thanks to some stunning footage captured by a drone, and find out more about some of the key projects.
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Bramall Music Building
Opened in 2012, the Bramall Music Building completed the Aston Webb semi-circle and is home to the University's Department of Music. Offering state-of-the-art teaching, research, performance and rehearsal facilities appropriate to the department's outstanding reputation, the building features a 450-seat auditorium suitable for performances ranging from solo voice and early music to a full symphony orchestra. The building was made possible thanks to the support of more than 275 donors, including a transformational gift from the Liz and Terry Bramall Charitable Trust.
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Birmingham Life Sciences Park
Having recently completed the purchase of ten acres of land at the Battery Park site (top right in the photo) in Selly Oak, the University has begun development of a new Life Sciences Park. The Birmingham Health Partners (BHP) project will include state-of-the-art research and commercial facilities. It will aim to support research and development of innovative healthcare technologies from concept to real-life application for improved patient care. BHP is a strategic alliance between the University and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Trust.
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Institute of Translational Medicine
Officially opened in autumn 2016, the Institute of Translational Medicine aims to save lives by accelerating the delivery of precision healthcare from laboratory benches to patients. Delivered by Birmingham Health Partners (BHP), the facility brings together clinical expertise, pioneering science, and academic excellence to speed up the rate at which research can improve patient treatments and outcomes. Its multi-disciplinary, highly-collaborative approach will include all components of the bench-to-bedside pathway.
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Collaborative Teaching Laboratory
Work is now underway on a facility that will bring together practical teaching activities across a broad range of science and engineering disciplines from 2019. The new purpose-built site will incorporate a wet lab, dry lab and e-lab and complements the recently-opened School of Engineering laboratory. Undergraduate and postgraduate students will benefit from a space designed to encourage and facilitate collaborative and inter-disciplinary working in an environment perfect for showcasing science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects to a wider audience.
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Muirhead Tower
The 16-storey Muirhead Tower is named after John Henry Muirhead, the University's first professor of Philosophy. Completed in 1969 and initially known as the Arts and Commerce Building, a £42 million refurbishment was completed in 2009. It now houses the College of Social Sciences and the Cadbury Research Library, home for the University's Special Collections.
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University of Birmingham Sport & Fitness
The new £55 million sports centre will be a gateway to the University for students, staff and our local community when its doors open soon. Featuring Birmingham's first 50-metre swimming pool, a large multi-sports arena, six glass-backed squash courts, a 10-metre climbing wall and five activity studios, as well as the state-of-the-art 'Chrissie's Gym' with almost 200 pieces of equipment (pictured above during installation).
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Hornton Grange Hotel and Conference Centre
A new 172-bed hotel and conference site, planned to open in 2018, will be built near to the University's existing conference facilities off Edgbaston Park Road and offer increased flexibility for conferences and other events, including weddings. Key to the plans is the regeneration of Hornton Grange (built in 1928) and Garth House, a Grade II* listed building completed in 1900.
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Library
Tailor-made to fit the needs of the 21st century user, the new Library is designed to make more of the University's incredible collections accessible to students and staff. Technology-rich, it offers wireless mobile charging, media rooms and video editing booths, houses a variety of learning spaces to cater for different modes of study, and includes 40 miles of shelving. Built at a cost of £60 million, the building heralds a new generation of libraries in UK higher education.
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Municipal Bank
The University declared its intention to establish a new base in Birmingham city centre late in 2016, after purchasing the former Municipal Bank at 301 Broad Street. Proposals for the development at the Grade II listed building include a community education hub, performance space for music and drama, hospitality provision, professional training space, and meeting and function rooms that extend campus facilities.
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Green Heart
A striking new parkland in the centre of the University’s historic campus is being created following the completion of the new Library in September 2016. The artist's impression here shows how the project will open up the centre of campus for students, staff, and the local community to enjoy, providing a space for performances, socialising, meeting and studying. Work is now underway and the Green Heart is due to be completed in 2019.
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The Alan Walters Building
The new postgraduate teaching centre for Birmingham Business School opened in autumn 2016, providing a dedicated home for students of Business School postgraduate programmes. The building is named after Sir Alan Walters, a former lecturer and Professor of Econometrics and Social Statistics at the University, who was also economic advisor to Margaret Thatcher's government. Picture: Quintin Lake
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Student Hub
Following the renovation of C Block in Aston Webb, the Student Hub is home to the Student Information Team, Student Support and Careers Network. Students have access to all the University’s student support networks in one place, and opportunities for personal development and training. The reception contains an interactive booking system, information zone and a suite of one-to-one consultation rooms, as well as mixed social and learning spaces, including a 250-seat lecture theatre and a new study lounge.
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Bournbrook Hall of Residence
Offering 178 students bright and modern en-suite accommodation, Bournbrook is a new residential development opening in September 2017. The residency will also boast a café, open to the local community, and a dedicated student accommodation office. As the hall is on the doorstep of the sports pitches, it will become home to the new University sports pavilion, containing eight changing rooms, a café, bar, function room and sports facilities.