UEL invests £1m into creative spaces on campus

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Published

01 March 2022

The University of East London (UEL) has invested around £1m into the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering (ACE), putting creativity and collaboration at the heart of our teaching facilities.

New renovations to the AVA Building and Knowledge Dock on our Docklands Campus, will give students access to industry standard equipment and completely transform their educational experience.

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AVA Launch & Guest Lecture with Neven Sidor

Watch a round up of the launch and awards

Upgrades to the AVA Building include:

Expansions to our Way Out East Gallery, which will showcase regular exhibitions on student work.
A brand new space called Lightwell invites students to interact in design sprints or sandpit type activities which can all be live-streamed via the newly created student-led Broadcast Unit.
The Atrium features our archive library, a comfortable visitor area with the best work from our students and a bookable presentation space surrounded by small galleries and studios which will be used for individual teaching sessions.

Upgrades to Knowledge Dock include:

The Computing Active Learning Lab (CALL), will feature 62 of the most powerful computers at the University.
A brand new state-of-the-art flight simulation machine from the UK's largest manufacturer, Merlin. Along with the software, Excalibur, the simulation machine will give aeronautical engineering students and researchers opportunities to flight test their novel designs and projects.
A new space called The Fuel features two redesigned labs with three laser printers, 15 digital printers and a robotic arm. This STEAM project space invites researchers and students from all courses at ACE to collaborate on designs.

These renovations mark the first phase of our AVA building project. The second phase will create a completely new exterior on the ground floor of the building, with wide windows connecting passers-by and the outside to the creative work displayed in the Way Out East Gallery. This work is due to start in the summer of 2022.

New facilities will equip students with industry skills while they study

The new facilities were celebrated at a launch which invited around 100 students to network with industry leaders including Neven Sidor, partner at Grimshaw Architects; Charles Horne, project director and Nick Phillips, development director at British Land.

Some of the best work from our architecture cohort will exhibit in the Way Out East Gallery until Monday 7 March.

Group of winning students with their prizes
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Group of attendees watch the award ceremony in The Lightwell
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All the award winners at the AVA Building and Knowledge Dock launch
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Neven Sidor, partner at Grimshaw Architects speaks
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David Tann, dean of ACE, Charles Horne, project director and Nick Phillips, development director at British Land
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Group of winning students with their prizes
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Group of attendees watch the award ceremony in The Lightwell
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All the award winners at the AVA Building and Knowledge Dock launch
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Neven Sidor, partner at Grimshaw Architects speaks
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David Tann, dean of ACE, Charles Horne, project director and Nick Phillips, development director at British Land
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David Tann, dean of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, said, "We are privileged to have such an international, talented and dedicated student base at our School.

Our new state-of-the-art facilities will give our students every opportunity to use the same equipment that industry leaders work with every day, further preparing them for a successful career once they graduate.

"I cannot wait to see what incredible things our students can achieve with our new facilities."

Alex Scott-Whitby, subject area lead for architecture and design, said, "These events which invite our great alumni, students, teachers and industry leaders into this incredible space is what makes UEL special and unique.

"These brand new spaces will transform our students experience and directly equip them with the skills that employers look for. This represents an exciting time for architecture and design at UEL."

Student work celebrated at launch event

Students who produced the best designs were honoured with awards recognising their hard work throughout the academic year.

Interior design year 1 portfolio prize winner, second year student, Isobel White, BA (Hons) Interior Design, said, "It feels unexpected to win an award tonight. I worked really hard on my project so winning this makes me feel proud and as if I shouldn't underestimate myself.

"It feels like there are so many options on campus for us to work with now. The tutors are really pushing us to experiment with different materials and styles in our work. I really want to use the 3D printer - we learnt about that in my first year here, so I can't wait to see what that can do to my designs."

Interior design year 2 portfolio prize winner, third year student, Taiwo Popoola, BA (Hons) Interior Design, said, "I didn't know I was going to win an award tonight, but I am very grateful as it shows that people have appreciated my work.

"UEL has brought out something in me that I didn't even know was there. I have always been a creative person through my art and painting. However, when it comes to interior design, I have learned so much since being here - our tutors constantly push us to develop our work and achieve more than what we think is possible."

For more information see the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering at UEL.