University's new £40m centre opens

Durham University has celebrated the official opening of its £40m new building, the Teaching and Learning Centre.

The building was officially opened by the Chair ofJoe Doc her ty and provides state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities – creating an additional 450 spaces for individual and collaborative study, nearly 200 computer laboratory spaces, high-specification facilities and top-of-the-rangedigital equipment.

The Centre also houses an experimental education laboratory where new learning methods can be trialled. Among a number of other initiatives, they are currently experimenting with the use of virtual reality to create trans-Atlantic teaching spaces – with students in the US and Durham able to learn together through the use technology to create a virtual classroom.

The building has already received very positive feedbackfrom students and staff.

Prof Stuart Corbridge, university vice-chancellor, said: “As we open this building, we are looking ahead to incredibly exciting times for our students and for the University. We have long been recognised globally for the strength of our research, and the exceptional student experience we offer. Now we are showing the world we can match this with our innovative and inclusive approach to teaching.

“We are launching the new building alongside our new Access and Participation Plan - by far the most ambitious yet - which lays out how we will radically improve the representation of students from the local area at Durham University.”