BU is delighted to announce that the new Fusion Building on Talbot Campus opens its doors today – and all staff and students are invited to explore all of the new facilities.

Some final minor works will be taking place in the next few weeks, but everyone is welcome to take a self-guided tour around the building, which includes 27 new seminar rooms, three lecture theatres, research space, a 24 station PC laboratory (available from September 2016), roof-top terraces and numerous catering facilities, topped with a glass dome roof.

A team of people will be on hand in the building to direct all visitors for the entire day and everyone is encouraged to visit.

Vice-Chancellor Professor John Vinney commented on the opening: “After two years of building work – and many more years’ worth of planning – I’m absolutely delighted that the Fusion Building is open, and want to thank everyone that’s been involved in this enormous project. The building is right at the heart of our vision and will be a live, shared space used by everybody in very creative and innovative ways.

“It’s another significant milestone in the major improvements we’re making to our campuses in Poole and Bournemouth. The new building will provide state of the art academic space and along with other facilities, such as our new Student Centre, is part of an investment programme that is transforming the student learning experience at Bournemouth University.”

SUBU Present Chloe Schendel-Wilson said: “I think the Fusion Building will be incredible for Bournemouth University, its staff and students.

“The whole campus is starting to transform and the improved facilities will be brilliant for the student experience. I’m also proud that students were consulted throughout the project – the previous President and myself sat on the project board, in order to put forward the student’s point of view.”

£22million was invested in the new building and it was partially funded through a £5 million Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) STEM Award. This was awarded for investment into facilities and initiatives to promote advances in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). This latest development has allowed BU to continue its vision to create a modern, state-of-the-art university with world class academic buildings and outstanding facilities for staff and students and follows the success of the Student Centre which opened last spring to much acclaim.

Take a look at some of the images below to give you a flavour of what you can expect. You can also look at additional images on our Pinterest board or You Tube video. Let us know what you think on Twitter and Facebook by using #fusionbuilding.

Catering facilities

To celebrate the opening of the building, there will be promotions running throughout the week at the Forum Restaurant – the new 250 seat contemporary restaurant.

All week you can grab a coffee and a bacon roll for £1.50. From Tuesday to Friday you can also buy one and get another free on all medium sized hot drinks bought from the new ground floor Costa. Find out more about free samples and surprise freebies throughout the week.

The Forum Restaurant can be found on the ground floor, the Terrace Café on the second floor – both of which open from Monday 6 June. The Fusion Café – a juice bar located on the third floor will open in September. Outdoor terrace space is available for staff and students to enjoy on the second and third floors.

IT Services and the Centre for Excellence in Learning

As part of the £2million IT refurbishment and improvement plan, all of the audio visual equipment installed in the building will have the most up to date systems and offer the opportunity to try something different in facilitating learning. Both the Centre for Excellence in Learning and IT services will make available resources to help and inspire the uses of the spaces creatively.

Sustainability

All major BU estate projects, must achieve the ‘excellent’ rating through the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) as a minimum, and a number of green credentials enable the building to achieve this.

Opening formally in September, the building demonstrates BU’s commitment to enhancing the estate and creating a modern facility to benefit BU’s community for years to come. Together with the new Student Centre and Bournemouth University International College, and the plans for the new Gateway Developments, BU is evolving into a modern, greener and more user-friendly campus.

The Fusion Building

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The Terrace Café