Demolition has begun on the old student’s union building as part of the £19 million campus transformation project.
Vice Chancellor of the University Dominic Shellard and President of the Student’s Union Ian Warrington knocked down a wall on the site this morning to mark the start of the work.
Dominic Shellard said: “I just think it’s a massive opportunity for the university that we have to grab with both hands. We have to offer the absolute best.”
Demolition of the old Students’ Union building and ceramics and glass block of the Fletcher low-rise will take place from now until 14 March.
The site is right in the heart of campus, next to Newarke Point halls of residence.
Professor Shellard said: “I am not going to deny that it is going to create noise but we have thought very very carefully about this.”
The work will be carried out in normal working hours and will be planned around exam timetables.
According to surveys carried out by the university, students and staff would like more green space.
Professor Shellard, added: “The low-rise is going to be demolished and this whole area is going to be this huge green space.”
Virtual Maps of what the project will look like are available on the DMU website.
Ian Warrington said: “It’s incredible, it’s hard to imagine what it will look like in three years’ time, it’s really worth looking on the website.”
The old Student’s Union building has been left unused for eight years and its demolition marks the beginning of the massive campus transformation.
Professor Shellard said: “There’s a lot of history in that building, it shows where we have come from and where we are going.”
Demon Media will be following the project from start to finish.
