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Boost for students as university plans £5m campus renovation
ACADEMICS at Sheffield University have unveiled plans for a £5m renovation project at the institution's Union of Students which will form the latest stage of a campus makeover.
Work is set to begin on the project next month, and university managers said the scheme would transform the buildings of the union, which employs more than 900 staff.
According to the university, the union, which offers more than 200 sports clubs and societies, is a major factor in attracting students to Sheffield and the redevelopment aims to keep it at the "forefront of such facilities nationwide".
Cash from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, which provides money to universities in England for teaching, research and building work, will be used to fund the project.
It is planned that architects and project workers will renovate existing parts of the Union of Students' current facilities, as well as create new areas to be used for a variety of purposes.
Construction work is scheduled to begin on Monday, November 2 and is expected to take around 40 weeks, to be ready for a new intake of students in September 2010. The union will remain open throughout the building project.
It is hoped extra funding will also be provided by alumni donations to further improve the plans for the building, which include the creation of an "internal exhibition and performance space".
Blueprints for the project feature a striking new entrance and double height atrium space linking up a number of areas that are, according to bosses, "currently disjointed".
Sheffield student union president, Paul Tobin said: "This is a really exciting development which will strengthen our ability to enhance the student experience and attract new students to Sheffield.
"I'm passionate about the facilities available to the students at the union and although it is already the hub of the university social scene, the refurbishment will create an even bigger and better union with top class facilities to suit our diverse student body."
Sheffield University's union was voted the best student's union in Britain by the Virgin Alternative Guide last year, and has seen a great deal of re-modelling and rebuilding work since its formation.
It first opened in the Graves Building in 1936, which now houses the Interval Cafe Bar. The last major rebuild was in the early 1990s which added facilities like a 400-seat lecture theatre, informal study space, meeting rooms and catering facilities.
Vice-chancellor Professor Keith Burnett said: "At the University of Sheffield, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible facilities available, to ensure that their university experience is extremely fulfilling.
"Our award-winning Union of Students is an important resource for both students and staff and we are extremely proud that our refurbishment will ensure the union will retain its position as one of the best in the country."
Bam Construction, a nationwide company owned by Dutch firm Royal BAM Group has been awarded the construction contract. The company also built the university's Information Commons building.
Work is also currently taking place to overhaul the university's iconic Arts Tower, after a study revealed the landmark building's cladding was reaching the end of its lifespan.
At present, most of the Grade II listed building is shrouded in white tarpaulins and it is hoped that refurbishment programme will extend its life by an extra 30 years.
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