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Work starts on unique university campus in central Stratford

Wednesday 7 December 2011

The University Square Stratford big dig starts

Work has officially begun on a much-anticipated joint campus project between the University of East London and Birkbeck, University of London, intended to bring higher education into the heart of the Olympic borough.

The official start of building work was commemorated earlier today with a ceremonial pouring of concrete into the foundations of the site by high-profile media lawyer and UEL Chair of the Board of Governors, Mark Stephens, who was joined by Professor Patrick McGhee, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London, and Professor David Latchman CBE, Master of Birkbeck, along with a small group of invited guests.

The campus, to be called University Square, situated at the heart of Stratford’s cultural quarter, is the first of its kind in the capital and will offer an alternative model of higher education, with flexible part- and full-time, day and evening study opportunities for people who live and work in east London. The building’s facilities will also be made available to the local community, businesses and arts groups. Professor Patrick McGhee, UEL Vice-Chancellor, said: “It is great to see building work get under way on this exciting new initiative. University Square will bring higher education into the communities of east London in a way that has never been done before and play an important role in the remarkable transformation of this part of London.”

The Master of Birkbeck, Professor David Latchman CBE, said: “University Square is an exciting development in Birkbeck’s project to extend the availability of its unique, evening taught provision in east London. The shared nature of the building means that students in Stratford will benefit from a truly flexible, high-quality higher education offering. We are delighted the building work has now officially started.”

Designed by Make architects, the five-floor building will comprise 8,600 sq ms of flexible teaching and performance space, as well as academic and administrative offices, orientated around a large, light-filled atrium. University Square will open in time for the academic year beginning autumn 2013.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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