University of Hertfordshire opens £100 million building

The £100 million, five-storey building - now the largest on the university’s College Lane campus in Hatfield - brings together the physics, engineering, and computer science departments for the first time.

It comes after six years of construction work.

The School of Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science is now the largest on the university’s College Lane campus (Image: University of Hertfordshire) New facilities include two dedicated physics laboratories, two isolated cyber systems rooms for cyber security students, a £2 million suite of wind tunnels, new robotics labs, and a robot football pitch.

There are also flight simulators, a welding bay, controls testing suite, two Caterham lightweight sports cars and a Tesla for use in autonomous vehicle design.

Professor Daniel McCluskey, Dean of Spectra at the university, said: "Spectra has been deliberately designed to provide students with an environment that mirrors the working environments in their future careers.

The new university building was opened to staff and students this week (Image: University of Hertfordshire) "This is to ensure we deliver on the University of Hertfordshire’s mission to provide the highest quality, career-focused education that hugely enhances career prospects and ensures our students graduate both work-ready and able to make an impact in real-world settings."

The increased range of research, education, and training made possible by Spectra aims to address crucial skills gaps within the STEM sector.

It will also advance the university’s capacity to partner with local, regional, and national aerospace, engineering, bioscience, and other STEM companies.

The new university building was opened to staff and students this week (Image: University of Hertfordshire) The building's design ensures all research and teaching areas are visible throughout, with communal workshops on each floor to allow efficient collaboration between staff and students from different subjects.

Prof McCluskey added: "We are confident that the cross-thinking encouraged by Spectra will lead to an increase in postgraduate research and raise the University’s international reputation."

Daniel McCluskey, Dean of Spectra at the University of Hertfordshire (Image: University of Hertfordshire) University of Hertfordshire’s vice-chancellor Quintin McKellar added: "Spectra will not only bridge crucial skills gaps and generate growth, but it will produce students who are work-ready, fit for the high-tech, net zero economy of the future and able to contribute to society in a positive way.

"This will not only benefit their own prospects and success, but also that of the wider nation’s growth, progress, and development."