HRH The Princess Royal to open Science and Technology building
HRH The Princess Royal, Royal Patron of the Women Into Science and Engineering (WISE) campaign, will officially open The University of Northampton’s Newton building on 28 September, home to the School of Science and Technology.
The £11 million re-development of the Grade II listed building, formerly Kingsley Park, on St George’s Avenue, Northampton, has seen it transformed into a state-of-the-art technology and research centre. It houses NVision, a facility which provides specialist services to help companies develop and promote their products using immersive 3D modelling and visualisation capabilities, and the East Midlands Non-Destructive Testing Centre. The building is also home to the British Institute of Non Destructive Testing.
Professor Kamal Bechkoum, Dean of the School of Science and Technology, commented: “We are delighted that HRH The Princess Royal will officially be opening the Newton building. Newton provides a technological boost for students and businesses across the county and I am proud of what it offers and the facilities we have in-house.
“The facilities in Newton are having a positive impact on shaping the learning environment we need to deliver high quality and contemporary Science and Technology education that is innovative and responsive to the needs of individual students, employers and society.
“The opening of the building by HRH The Princess Royal, Royal Patron of Women Into Science and Engineering, will also boost our endeavour to advance gender equality in science, engineering and technology.”
The Newton project was designed by leading county practice GSSArchitecture, working to a brief of 'creating an environment for businesses to work closely with the University while utilising the latest IT facilities and systems’. Funding for the project came from the Higher Education Funding Council, Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd, the East Midlands Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund. The development also has the backing of the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation.
Posted by: The University of Northampton
