Bournemouth University’s Fusion Building has been officially opened.
The building includes 27 new seminar rooms, three lecture theatres, research space, a 24-station PC lab, rooftop terraces and numerous catering facilities, all topped with a glass-domed roof.
BU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim McIntyre-Bhatty said: “It is a significant milestone for the university to formally open the Fusion Building. I am delighted to see it being used and enjoyed by the entire BU community.
"This flagship building is right at the heart of our Talbot Campus and embodies our vision to provide inspiring, state-of-the-art academic space and facilities that enable staff and students to work creatively and collaboratively together."
The Fusion Building was officially opened by Angus Campbell Esq, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, following an inaugural lecture by BU’s Professor of Microbial Ecology Genoveva Esteban, the 2015 winner of BU’s Vice-Chancellor’s Achievement Award.
£22 million was invested in the new building and it was partially funded through a £5 million Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) STEM Award. This was awarded for investment into facilities and initiatives to promote advances in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
Professor John Vinney, Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University, said: “The Fusion Building is the largest academic building we’ve created as part of our vision. It’s right at the heart of our Talbot Campus and it’s a wonderful creative space for our staff and students to work together.
“Right at the heart of our vision is co-creation and co-production and this building provides so many opportunities to not only work together but to deliver our teaching in new inspirational ways, to showcase our research, and engage in public engagement activities.”
The Fusion Building is part of BU’s £250 million investment in its estates infrastructure and facilities by 2019, constructing new buildings and redesigning both Lansdowne and Talbot Campuses.
Planning permissions have recently been endorsed by Bournemouth and Poole Councils for the proposed new Poole and Bournemouth Gateway Buildings on the Talbot and Lansdowne sites respectively.
