Staffordshire University’s £40m flagship building, The Catalyst, showcased in virtual fly-through
Staffordshire University’s upcoming £40m flagship building, The Catalyst, has been brought to life in a new virtual fly-through video tour.
The fly-through shows visitors inside the 8,800 sqm, four-storey building, showcasing its designated social learning areas, food court and flexible event space. Once complete the new building will act as a study base at the University’s Leek Road Campus in Stoke-on-Trent for 6,500 new apprenticeships by 2030.
Due to open in Autumn 2021, The Catalyst has a modern yet functional design, supported by a striking angular brick frame, a flexible, open-plan space comprising of a glass frontage at ground level and a distinctive design on the upper storeys.
Despite the ongoing challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, construction of The Catalyst has continued. The building columns between the ground floor and mezzanine have now been installed. Works continue to the upper floors of the concrete frame, whilst the next phase of the project will see the installation of the building envelope and internal fit out.
Professor Martin Jones, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Staffordshire University said, “The University is very much looking forward to watching The Catalyst continue to take shape over the next 12 months. The flagship facility will be a landmark development in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent and will add to the University’s work to grow the numbers of skilled apprentices and raise education levels in Staffordshire and beyond.”
Unjulee Karadia, Associate Director at Mace, said; “We are delighted to be working alongside VINCI and Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios for Staffordshire University, and we’re excited to see the construction of the scheme unfold. The project will be transformational for the University and the fly-through video tour paints the picture of how this fantastic educational development will take shape.”
Michael Roadnight, Regional Director of Vinci Construction, stated, “The project is progressing at a pace and VINCI have taken several measures to minimise the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. The project is in an exciting phase with the shape and size of the structure beginning to take shape. The fly-through video tour provides an excellent visualisation which showcases facilities ahead of overall completion.”
Hugo Marrack,Partner at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios added, “We are very excited to be a part of Staffordshire University’s ambitious Catalyst Project. The building has been designed to have a bold and striking character, incorporating excellence in construction and sustainability that aligns with the University’s own pursuit of excellence in education.”
Watch The Catalyst fly-through video here
For more information and to watch The Catalyst construction updates please visit https://www.staffs.ac.uk/go/catalyst
Claire Frays
Communications Officer
t: 01782 295720
m: 07717 867396
e: claire.frays@staffs.ac.uk
Staffordshire University is the Connected University; connected to the needs of students, academic partners, business and society. Our main city campus in Stoke-on-Trent features excellent learning and teaching facilities and good transport links. We have specialist Centres of Excellence in Healthcare Education at Stafford and Shrewsbury.
We were recognised with a Gold award in the 2019 Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) for delivering consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for students.
We have been shortlisted for University of the Year at the THE Awards 2020 and were named ‘Midlands University of the Year’ at the Midlands Business Awards 2020.
Staffordshire University has signed up to the Civic University Agreement, pledging to play a leading role in improving the regional economy and enhancing quality of life in local communities. We were recognised in the top 15 for social inclusion in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021. We aim to be a leading university for digital technologies building on our proud computing heritage and in 2019 launched Staffordshire University London’s Digital Institute which is committed to preparing students for careers in new and emerging tech industries.
We are a Top 250 Young University (Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020) and are connected globally, with more than 11,000 people are studying Staffordshire University degrees overseas.
