Uni shortlists two sites for new school
TWO locations have been shortlisted for Cardiff Metropolitan University’s proposed new School of Technologies – which would aim to attract 2,000 students from around the world.
As revealed earlier this year, the Cardiff School of Technologies, whose applied course would be driven by the demand of employers, would:
Aim to open for the 2020-21 academic year
Potentially also include the university’s existing School of Education, currently based at Cyncoed
Accommodate nearly 2,000 students
Reach 2,000 students by 2024 – as well as 1,200 in the School of Education
Create 300 full-time jobs
Support a further 1,500 roles in the wider Cardiff Capital Region.
While still at an early stage, the university, which last week announced up to 100 redundancies, has whittled down its location options to:
The proposed Central Quay regeneration scheme which covers the existing SA Brain headquarters and brewing site immediately south of Cardiff Central train station
A five-acre site of undeveloped land at Callaghan Square, which is currently owned by the Welsh Government.
However, the Welsh Government, which is being advised by property advisory firm Knight Frank, would have to put the land out for a competitive sales process.
Vice-chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University Cara Aitchison said the aim was to establish a design competition for the project, which she said would attract some of the best architectural firms in UK to create an “iconic campus”.
She added: “The new school will be driven by economic change, employer need and student demand.
“We will have the school in name [prior to new campus] by this September and high levels of appointment have already been made.
“The new site won’t open until 2020.
“And two locations are a possibility with the proposed Central Quay scheme at the current SA Brain site and Callaghan Square.
“The building will not look like a university, but a work space.”