The University of Bristol has opened the doors to its new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, marking a major milestone in the transformation of one of the city’s largest regeneration areas.
The £500 million campus opens alongside a new £23 million eastern entrance at Bristol Temple Meads railway station and a new harbour walkway, creating improved connections for pedestrians and cyclists.
The development represents more than a decade of collaboration between the University of Bristol, Bristol City Council, the West of England Combined Authority, Homes England, Network Rail and Bristol Temple Quarter LLP.
A new gateway for Bristol
At the heart of the project is the 38,000 square metre Sloane Robinson Building, constructed by Sir Robert McAlpine.
Replacing a former Royal Mail sorting office that had stood vacant since 1997, the building provides a new gateway to the University and has been designed to bring students, researchers, businesses and community partners together.
Around 4,500 students and 650 staff will use the building, which has been designed around inclusive and active learning.
Its facilities include 22 Active Learning Studios, a 300 plus seat lecture theatre, specialist cyber security suites, digital studios and video recording pods.
Built around innovation
The Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus will focus on sectors expected to play a significant role in the future economy, including artificial intelligence, digital engineering, cyber security, advanced telecommunications and quantum technologies.
Among its specialist facilities is the Design Factory, which provides advanced prototyping and design equipment, alongside a dedicated Maker Space for developing early ideas and concepts.
The campus also features 20 Bloomberg Trading terminals, giving students access to specialist financial training facilities.
Investment in Bristol’s future
The project has received £35 million of investment from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to establish a major deep tech innovation hub.
A key part of this will be the Bristol Innovations Zone, which aims to connect businesses, investors and innovators with University research, talent and specialist facilities.
The initiative builds on existing innovation facilities and programmes in the city, including the Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre, Engine Shed and SETsquared Bristol.
The ambition is to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry while supporting businesses working in critical and emerging technologies.
Connecting communities
The new campus has also been designed to play a wider civic role.
Facilities including the Bristol Rooms and Story Exchange will provide spaces where academics, students, businesses, public sector organisations and community groups can work together on real world challenges.
The University says local communities will also be able to use a number of facilities, including cafes, civic spaces and the public landscape.
The project forms part of a wider transformation of Temple Quarter, with the new railway station entrance and harbour walkway helping to create stronger connections between different parts of the city.
Sustainability at the heart of the project
Sustainability has been an important consideration throughout the construction of the campus.
The Sloane Robinson Building is designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and is connected to a district heating network to help reduce energy demand and carbon emissions.
Lower carbon construction methods have also been adopted, including the use of eco concrete.
More than 750 solar panels have been installed on the roof, while the surrounding public landscape includes more than 130 mature trees and new habitats designed to support biodiversity.
Art meets architecture
The new building also incorporates three public art commissions created with Bristol based artists, local fabricators and community partners.
The projects draw on themes ranging from the city’s railway heritage and industrial past to its natural environment and technological future.
One commission, inspired by traditional railway departure boards, will be displayed in the building’s main Exchange Hall.
Another project involved children from Hartcliffe creating a film inspired by the riverside ecology surrounding the campus.
A major milestone for the city
The opening of the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus marks a significant moment for both the University and the wider city.
Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, described the opening as an important day for Bristol and said the campus represented the next chapter in the transformation of the city and the wider West of England into a globally competitive innovation region.
The development is also expected to support the wider regeneration of Temple Quarter, bringing together education, business, technology and community activity within a previously underused part of the city.
With its combination of major investment, advanced facilities and new public spaces, the campus is now positioned to become a significant part of Bristol’s future innovation and economic landscape.
Source: University of Bristol
Image: Rosscam/University of Bristol