Newcastle University – Centre for Sport Exercise Sciences, Nutrition and Psychology

GSSArchitecture have been appointed as Architects and Lead Consultants to deliver Newcastle University’s new £50m teaching and learning building, adjacent to the Sports Hall and the new Park View Student Residences and close to the University’s existing Medical School.

The building will form an important addition to the University’s campus and will house a range of cutting edge teaching and learning facilities in support of various academic programmes. Seminar rooms and lecture theatres will be available for use by the wider university, whilst the open access building also includes specialist spaces and staff offices for the Schools of Psychology and Sport, Exercise and Nutritional Sciences. The new facilities have been driven by increasing student numbers applying for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and increasingly diverse undergraduate provision.

The innovative building will provide functional and flexible facilities for teaching and learning, and has been designed to facilitate integrated research by promoting collaboration between disciplines through shared encounter spaces and the provision of social breakout areas. Research shows that this approach to design supports the development of cross-disciplinary research and teaching, integrating both the physical and psychological aspects of exercise in relation to health and performance.

The facility will also become a social learning hub for a wide range of students who occupy the surrounding buildings, including the Sports Hall and various student residences, in addition to meeting the needs of the expanding Faculty of Medical Sciences. Construction work will commence in September 2018 following a highly intensive design period, which commenced earlier this year.