Regenerated Old Quad reopens to celebrate 200 years of education
As part our bicentenary celebrations, a remodelled Old Quad section on campus has reopened on Friday, 21 June 2024. The enhancement maintains the historic fabric of the space and showcases our dedication to sustainability, whilst continuing to act as an area to accommodate a wide range of events and activities.
Acting as a ‘green heart’ of the University, hard and soft landscaping have revitalised the section. Existing trees were preserved in the design, while the introduction of an elliptical central lawn,16 new trees, and 4,500 new plants will offer a biodiversity net gain of over 80%. Log piles and shallow pools will also provide habitats and a water source for birds and insects, alongside bat and birdboxes.
Diana Hampson, Director of Estates and Facilities and Chief Property Officer, said: “After many years of envisaging a landscaped Old Quad, I am delighted that we have delivered this project in our Bicentenary year. The reimagined space, rich in biodiversity, will provide a garden heart for the University the best possible experience for students, staff, and visitors.”
Matthew Speight, Director of Iteriad, said: “We feel privileged to have been involved in this regeneration project from inception through to completion. The vision of the University has always been to create a beautiful space that can accommodate the multi-layered functionality they require but, more importantly, it has been to create a place for people and for wildlife.”
The project, which has been developed and delivered by our Directorate of Estates and Facilities, is just one part of our University’s plan to increase sustainability and biodiversity on campus. Our air travel has decreased by almost 50%, saving over 8,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. We have divested from all fossil fuel companies and reduced the carbon intensity of other investments by 55%.
The University recently announced an agreement to purchase our electricity from a 104,000-panel solar farm, which will provide up to 65% of our electricity and save 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year. We are also investing £160m into the efficiency of our buildings. The zero-carbon works in our Booth Street East and Dalton Ellis buildings have been completed and will save an estimated 332 tonnes of carbon annually.