Behind the lens
Penryn 2.0
Building on the success of the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall, the institution is proposing to invest in a new facility to expand sustainable futures research and teaching.
Currently in the design phase, the new three-storey facility is fundamental to the University’s strategic ambition to “grow our research, education, and partnership activities in Cornwall.”
The new building will provide much needed space for innovation, creativity, learning and discovery, collaboration, and community, where interdisciplinary research and teaching can make a profound and positive difference to our world, now and for decades to come. The new space will allow our team to substantially grow areas of environmental and human health research, to train the next generation of environmentalists and to further engage with businesses and partners within the South West region and globally. The building will also host a new centre for microbiology and planetary health.
It will increase capacity for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and include state-of-the-art laboratories and collaborative space.
This will put Penryn on the map as an international hub for net zero, clean growth, and nature recovery research and teaching.
Multifaith Centre coming in 2024
The University has made a significant investment to create a new, flexible, and inclusive Multifaith Centre in the heart of Streatham Campus. The new space will be a focal point for our community, where multifaith activities and events will take place that promote respect, community and inclusion.
We broke ground on the project, which is located opposite the Forum’s South Piazza and behind the Hatherly building, in September 2023 and we expect the new centre to open in Autumn 2024.
The dedicated space will provide a place for quiet reflection, multifaith services and events, and includes a 50-person Muslim prayer space. The project reflects the University’s commitment to support diversity, inclusion, culture, heritage, and creative life in Exeter.
Sustainability and reducing carbon emissions are fundamental to the design of the new centre. The building is being constructed from low carbon Porotherm clay blocks and will incorporate high levels of insulation, including triple glazed windows and high air tightness performance. The building will also benefit from air source heat pumps and PV solar panels on the roof.
Wellbeing services at Mardon Hill now open
A new additional space for students to access wellbeing services on Streatham Campus opened in late 2023. The University’s Wellbeing team provide a range of internal and external support and advice services for students.
Located on Mardon Hill, next to Holland Hall, the new facility has created much needed space for face-to-face wellbeing appointments and counselling sessions in a relaxed, welcoming, and private environment.
It includes a reception and welcoming waiting area, confidential soundproofed spaces, office space, and small and large meeting and appointment rooms. There is also a small group space in a chalet located outside, and the gardens have been landscaped to create a calm and relaxed environment.
The building has achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, meaning that it has enhanced thermal efficiency and reduced operational carbon. The project also achieved zero waste to landfill.
St Luke’s redevelopment
We are developing a vision to redevelop our St Luke’s Campus over the next decade, and beyond, to enhance our reputation as a world-leading centre of excellence for health and wellbeing research and education.
The new plans will boost health-related education and research, directly benefitting the local community. In addition to this, they aim to greatly improve the look of the site by retaining historic buildings, whilst creating a modern and biodiverse landscape that will enhance the Campus’ role.
The Campus has a proud 160-year history of delivering high-quality research and training, with an increasing focus on health and wellbeing since the University of Exeter Medical School was established a decade ago. Now, the Campus also houses the Academy of Nursing, and activities including biomedical, public health, the UK’s number one sports and health sciences research groups, as well as the training of the next generation of nurses, doctors, medical scientists, and radiographers.
The new vision for the Campus aims to build on the close proximity to key partner – the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – to help stimulate an expansion of health-related activity, which would add health and economic benefits to the area.
Following further stakeholder engagement activity to gather feedback on the emerging vision for the Campus, we expect to submit a proposal to Exeter City Council in 2024.
