£1.5m building boost for Stirling University
Details of a major expansion of the University of Stirling were revealed in the Observer of May 1969.
The university was founded by Royal Charter in 1967 and in September of that year the institution’s first 164 undergraduates and 31 postgraduates began their courses in the new Pathfoot Building.
Two years later and the university announced the £1.5 million contract had been awarded to Whatling (Building) Ltd for the first group of additional buildings on the campus.
That work was due for completion in summer of 1970 in time for the first major intake of undergraduates, numbering about 700, to be admitted that September.
Included in this new phase of the university’s expansion were the first part of the central teaching and research complex, library and Macrobert Centre.
The Observer said: ‘The teaching and research complex as a whole is designed on a spine and rib principle. This will allow it to grow by yearly increments to give continuous and flexible teaching space for all 16 departments in the arts, social science and physical sciences which are already in full operation at the university, and for the others that are set up as the university expands to its first target of 3000 undergraduates.’
Measuring 83,000 square feet, the first three-storey ‘spine’ was to provide accommodation for four of the departments based at that time in the Pathfoot building.
Finishing touches were also being added to plans for the library comprising three floors and a basement and space for 250,000 books, 650 reader places and 150 private workspaces for research students.
Financed by private donation, the Macrobert Centre was to have a 500-seat auditorium, a second area with seating for 220 for rehearsals, meetings, experimental performances, etc, and a restaurant overlooking Airthrey Loch.
A 20-acre stretch of playing fields had just been completed and construction was also underway on the 640 student residences, the first of the student accommodation to be built on campus, and a sports pavilion.