Bristol’s reputation as an innovative business centre will get a major boost from UWE’s new Faculty of Business and Law building, the university’s deputy vice chancellor said today as the main contractor was appointed.
International building group ISG, which has a base in Bristol, will oversee construction of the £50m state-of-the art building – with work starting next month.
The 17,200 sq m, five-storey building will house Bristol Business School and Bristol Law School and include two Harvard-style lecture theatres, a 300-seat tiered lecture theatre, two showcase mock court rooms and a trading room along with teaching and lecturing facilities. 
UWE deputy vice chancellor Professor Jane Harrington said the building would enable the university to play a new role in shaping Bristol’s future as a vibrant business centre.
“It will include specialist executive development facilities as well as space for collaboration, business development and informal learning space – this wonderful new building will fulfil the aspirations of students, staff and the business community,” she said.
“This building will enable the business community to share in the vibrant atmosphere at UWE Bristol and benefit from closer contact with students and academics.
“Our role is to be part of the world of business, to reach out to business and enable them to reach in to us. There are huge benefits for businesses of working closely with a modern practice-based university like UWE Bristol, and this new building will create the opportunity to enable this to happen by fostering informal and formal interaction.
“Key professional organisations will have a base in the new building; and barristers, accountants, small business owners and start-ups (to name but some of our visitors) will be able to mix with staff and students in the social learning areas. Pop-up pods will provide flexible workspaces and state-of-the-art law courts will offer excellent facilities for our law students.”
Enabling works have now been completed on the site and construction work will start in May.
The landmark academic building will be located at the heart of the new developments on UWE’s Frenchay Campus, on the northern side of a newly formed plaza. The vice chancellor and his team will also be based in the new building, which will be naturally ventilated with energy efficient lighting and control systems. It is due to be operational from January 2017.
Bristol Business School and Bristol Law School educate future professionals in all aspects of business and law – from entrepreneurship, management, leadership, strategy through to economists, accountants, marketing and human resources. As well as offering academic law courses they also train barristers and solicitors and provide research into important business and law issues that confront both businesses and society.
Innovative new courses, such as the successful Business Team Entrepreneurship degree, are already creating a buzz on campus, UWE said, with students responding to the challenges of creating their own businesses during their time at university.
