Frequently asked questions

An exciting project is currently underway at the University of Westminster to transform the Marylebone campus. Once completed, it will mean a better student experience, better facilities and a more professional, interactive and appealing environment in which to work and study.

The University is investing in this project because we are committed to ensuring students have contemporary state-of-the-art academic and research spaces that will enhance their learning experience and provide valuable opportunities for professional networking.

The Marylebone Project will:

• Improve the student experience by creating a contemporary environment that supports your modern needs and learning style
• Create a sense of pride, belonging and identity amongst fellow students and staff
• Improve the catering service area and offer more choice
• Combine formal and informal places on the Learning Platform to encourage interaction, study and discussion
• Create a campus that fellow students and staff want to spend more time at
• Ensure our campus is environmentally sustainable
• Reflect the University’s relationship with the wider professional community
• Encourage a more vibrant and collaborative culture
• Position the University of Westminster as a provider of quality professional learning that sets the standard in central London
• And much, much more!

There will be many improvements across the campus including:

• The key feature of this project – the Learning Platform (remodelling of the ground floor and placing a roof over the existing outdoor podium)
• New catering facilities and varieties of food and drinks
• Upgrades and refurbishments to learning and teaching spaces, offices and the entrance    
• Refurbishments to offices and the campus entrance
• Dedicated suites for students
• Improved library space and access
• Multi-function spaces that allow public access for exhibitions, seminars and forums
• A new state-of-the-art lecture theatre and additional class rooms
• New Student Union Information Bar

Work began in summer 2011 with the refurbishment of staff offices and seminar rooms, and upgrade of some toilet facilities.

The second phase of construction work began in January 2011 and is due for completion in September 2012 (in time for the new academic year). The Project Timeline provides more detail.

The University’s Estates and Facilities Department (Director, Trevor Wills), is managing the project and has selected a professional team and contractors who are responsible for:

• Ensuring the works are on schedule to be completed by September 2012
• Providing information related to the construction works

The University of Westminster is funding a number of transformation projects, including the improvements on the Marylebone and Harrow campuses. This substantial investment signals the University’s commitment to the continuing improvement of the student and staff experience. It has been made now to ensure it meets the immediate and future needs of students and allows room for adaptation and change.

An extensive selection of premium quality hot and cold meals, drinks and snacks.
It will offer a range of culturally diverse options and will be open at various times throughout the week to ensure evening and weekend students receive catering (which is currently not available).

Furniture selections are being developed with the creative interior designers and representation from the Students Union, SABE and WBS schools.

A catering presentation and tasting event was held on 9th November 2011. This is where students and staff saw the design and proposals for the new catering offerings. They even sampled the types of food that will be provided!

As the construction work begins on the campus students will be kept informed with emails, newsletters and notices around the campus.

Information is also available on the University’s website (westminster.ac.uk/about-us/university-developments/marylebone-campus.

If you have more questions, please contact estatestrategy@westminster.ac.uk.

Information about the project will be made available:

• On our website (University and School) and intranet
• On hoardings and posters around the campus
• Through emails and newsletters
• At our local events
• Through Student Union media (e.g. Smoke Xtra)
• To Course Representatives

• As the construction work begins on the campus students will be kept informed with emails, newsletters and notices around the campus.

If you have a pressing question you can email: estatestrategy@westminster.ac.uk. All enquiries will be feedback either to you directly or you will get a response from the most relevant person handling the project. Frequently asked questions will be shared with staff and students as the project progresses.

The majority of the construction work will take place between January 2012 and September 2012.

Each week a construction update is provided on campus and on our website. This update provides details about which parts of the campus will be affected by construction, when it will occur and the level of impact it is expected to have.

 The construction work will entail some unavoidable noise, disturbance and changes to the campus. We are working with the project contractors to get as much advance notice as possible of the areas that will be affected.

The greatest impact will be on the ground floor level, with the roofing of the podium being constructed to create the Learning Platform. Adjacent teaching will, where possible, be moved off campus.

All 2012 exams this summer will be held offsite, as they coincide with major building works. This is a measure to minimise impact during this important period. Details pertaining to the offsite location and exams can be found at our offsite exams page

Some areas will be closed off for construction works. To counteract this, off-site premises will be made available for teaching and other academic work.

The catering server will not be available during the construction period. However, there are temporary alternatives available:

• A new café (Time Out) that is open in the former Intermission area
• A new coffee point provided by AMT, which is set up outside the bookshop

During the construction, vouchers for free coffee at Time Out are being offered to students (limit of 100 per day) and are available from the Student Union. Once construction is complete, these areas will be replaced by the new catering area in the Learning Platform.

Roof repairs and the replacement of glazing in the Marylebone building will be completed in phases to minimise disruption. Plans are currently being designed to ensure that the architecture and interior studios are minimally affected.

Construction work is planned to occur over the shortest period of time feasible so that any disruption to normal University activities are minimised. However, some disturbance is inevitable given the work is taking place on a tight inner city site. The period of disruption will be short and sharp so that the new campus can be made available as soon as possible.

Questions and complaints relating to the project and the disruption can be emailed to estatestrategy@westminster.ac.uk.

All 2012 exams this summer will be held offsite in order to avoid noise disruption. Details can be found at offsite exams page.