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Students Give Ayr’s New Campus the Thumbs Up

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N44
Published: 07 Apr 2011

Students who will be studying at the new campus on the banks of the river Ayr come September have given it the thumbs up after enjoying a sneak preview of the £70 million development.

The new campus is being jointly developed by University of the West of Scotland (UWS) and the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC). Designed in consultation with Historic Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, it is on course to become one of the most modern, environmentally-friendly and sustainable higher education centres in the UK.

A representative group of students from SAC and UWS who will be studying at the new campus from September were recently invited to see the impressive development for themselves in advance of its official opening.

The group visit was facilitated by staff of the building contractor Lend Lease, with students receiving an explanation of the design and layout from staff of UWS and SAC. The two-hour tour started in the impressive reception area and then progressed to the library, atrium, lecture theatre, gymnasium and Students’ Union. The students also visited the UWS and SAC areas of the building, viewing the teaching rooms, laboratories and a range of other facilities. 

Following the visit, SAC Countryside Management student Mark Johnston said: “I think the new campus will be a great place to study - it will be good to be working in a modern, well-designed building.”

UWS Film-making & Screen Writing student, Kelly McMillan said: “The new building has a very modern and sophisticated feel to it throughout. I am very impressed with the layout and design; it is very practical for a university. It seems to accommodate all the people on all of the different courses equally."

The new campus has been designed to the highest environmental rating – BREEAM Excellent (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) – adopting sustainable strategies within its design and operation.

SAC Ayr’s Senior Tutor Alison Gillespie, who accompanied the students, said of their reaction to the new campus: “The students were clearly impressed with the state-of the-art facilities that are going to be available to them and are very much looking forward to taking up their studies in the new building. We’re certain that when the rest of our students come to the campus in September they will feel equally enthusiastic about it and will enjoy being part of the SAC and UWS student community.”

Liz Kennedy, Director of University of the West of Scotland’s Ayr Campus, said: “We are delighted that students got the chance to undertake a tour of our new Ayr Campus which will open later this year.

“The tour gave the students a real feel for the size, scale and innovative teaching and learning environments of the new campus, which will result in massive benefits not just for the University but the west of Scotland as a whole.”

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News Release Issued By

Ms Jane Smernicki
Head of Communications
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4331

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