Coventry Uni starts work on new state-of-the-art facility and public gallery

COVENTRY city centre is set for yet another major transformation as work on a new project is set to start this week.

Plans by Coventry University to demolish the Bugatti building on Grove Street were given the go-ahead last year, and are set to get underway today.

In its place will be a new public entrance and gallery space - which will link two existing university buildings.

The new building will also provide teaching spaces, including a multi-use studio and an immersive technology studio.

As part of the work, the Graham Sutherland and Maurice Foss buildings will be completely refurbished internally and will link to the new building.

If all runs to schedule the work will be completed in late 2021.

During the works, some minor disruption is expected for pedestrians.

A number of pedestrian and disabled access routes on the university campus will be affected.

However there are alternative routes in place with signage and lighting.

A casualty of the works are a number of trees which call the corner of Cox Street and Gosford Street home.

The university has stressed that as this space is to be repurposed, the trees will either be replanted or replaced.

John Latham, vicechancellor at Coventry University, said: “We look forward to starting work on this exciting project, which will bring improved spaces for both staff and students.

“The new building and refurbishment of existing buildings will enhance our students’ experience in Coventry with advanced facilities including new studios. There will also be space for the city’s community through the creation of a public gallery.”

It is the latest in a series of improvements the university is making to its Coventry city centre campus. The James Starley building, on the other side of Grove Street, is currently being demolished and will be replaced by Starley Gardens, a landscaped area which further opens the campus to the public.