Artist's impression of the STEM building on Square 1

Plans have now been submitted for a new state-of-the-art £13.2m teaching centre for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students to be built at our Colchester Campus.

The new building will transform Square 1 into a dedicated science square with new collaborative learning spaces and interdisciplinary teaching facilities.

A £5m award from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) was awarded to Essex for the project – the highest award available for STEM facilities. The University will now match this with an additional £8m.

Plans for the building have been submitted to Colchester Borough Council, seeking approval by the end of the year. Work is due to start on site in 2016, with the new centre opening in 2017.

The building will include a versatile, 180-seat wet lab for Biological Sciences students and a 200-seat IT-rich exploratory learning space to help students from across the Faculty of Science and Health work collaboratively on projects. Good accessibility will be a key feature of the building, which will also include a social space and café which can be used to meet external partners, businesses, schools and stage outreach activities. The building layout has been designed so there will also be space for future expansion.

Executive Dean for Science and Health Professor Graham Underwood said: “This significant investment in STEM will ensure we continue to provide our students with stimulating learning environments in which to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful graduates of this University.

“The new teaching centre will enhance our provision of high quality laboratory and technology-rich learning spaces, and will also support developments in interdisciplinary and core teaching, for example our new degree programme in Data Science and Analytics which is based on our internationally-recognised research expertise in this area and engagement with employers and industry.”