Student Centre and University Square
Our £60 million Student Centre and University Square is the thriving heart of our Preston Campus.
We’ve created stunning new spaces for you to explore and enjoy, a central hub for our second-to-none support services, and a gateway between the University and the city which the whole community can be proud of.
A new era of student support
With the opening of our new Student Centre we’ve created a stunning space to provide you with support every step of your student journey. Inside the Student Centre you’ll discover a huge range of services focused on you – from enhancing your health and wellbeing to preparing you for future success.
Every corner of the Student Centre has been carefully designed to support your wellbeing. It’s a great space to relax, take a break and catch up with friends. It’s also the place to go whenever you need some advice and support – whether you’ve got a quick question you need help with or you need to have a more in-depth discussion with one of our expert advisers.
Our welcoming, experienced team will be on hand to offer you sensitive and confidential support with whatever you need – from financial and careers advice to course information, accommodation assistance and support with your mental health and wellbeing. We know that student life can be challenging sometimes. We’re here to help you get your student life back on track and get the most out of your time with us.
Inside the Student Centre you’ll find a huge range of advice and support services and more:
- Accommodation
- Airport Transfers
- Careers
- Counselling
- Disability Services
- Drop-in Sessions
- Employment Workshops
- Faith and Spirituality
- Finance and Funding
- Inclusive Support
- Information Point
- Interpreters
- Mental Health
- Security
- Student Ambassador Support
- Students’ Union
- Support Services
- Visa Support
- Wellbeing Support
That’s not all. The Student Centre also contains…
- Accessible Showers
- Café
- Computer Facilities
- Flexible Study Space
- Information Point
The Square will become the focal point of our University, located right at the heart of our Preston Campus. It's a beautiful tree-lined space with plenty of seating where you’ll be able to relax, get together with friends, enjoy some lunch, or simply get some fresh air.
This is a space for the whole of Preston to enjoy. In the near future students and the whole community will be able to come together to enjoy various University and public events, from our graduation ceremony celebrations to festivals and markets in summer.
We take pride in our role as a Civic University – we’re an institution which benefits the lives and prospects of the whole city and local communities. With the opening of University Square, we are contributing to the ongoing economic regeneration of Preston and helping to improve the quality of life of its residents.
At night, the University Square really comes alive, with ‘light threads’ which create a stunning light display guiding you from the city through the campus.
If you need any help when you’re not on campus, you can contact the Student Support Team by email studentsupport@uclan.ac.uk or call 01772 891828.
Transforming our campus
We started work on our Student Centre and University six years ago as part of our Campus Masterplan. Since then we’ve completely transformed the heart of our Preston Campus into a vibrant space for all our students and the people of Preston to enjoy.
Over the last six years we’ve completely transformed the area around Preston’s Adelphi Quarter for the benefit of our students and the whole community. Our Student Centre, which is 16.5 metres high, provides a striking focal point at the heart of our revitalised Preston Campus.
Located in front of the Student Centre, University Square is one of the largest public spaces to have been created in the UK for many years, forming a soon-to-be iconic gateway between the University and the surrounding city of Preston.
The Student Centre and University Square were designed by the internationally renowned and award-winning architects Hawkins\Brown. Construction was overseen by Bowmer + Kirkland, one of the UK’s leading development companies.
Sustainability is at the core of the Student Centre’s design. The combination of its large glass façade, solar panels, low energy lighting and the use of recycled materials creates a sense of light, space and airiness throughout.
This is how the project took shape
We unveiled our £200m Masterplan transformation project, which outlined our vision to create a world-class campus in Preston.
The ground around the Student Centre was cleared to enable works to begin.
We launched an international design competition alongside the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), inviting design proposals for our new Student Centre and University Square.
Members of the public were invited to have their say on seven shortlisted designs following the RIBA competition
The winners of the RIBA design competition were announced, with the internationally renowned architects Hawkins/Brown chosen to design our Student Centre and University Square.
Preston City Council approved planning permission.
Utility works beneath the site got underway.
Construction contractors Bowmer + Kirkland were chosen to deliver our new Student Centre and University Square. Balfour Beatty began work on the highways scheme to transform the roads around the Student Centre site and improve the look and feel of the surrounding area.
Bowmer + Kirkland began construction of the Student Centre and University Square.
Major milestone achieved as construction of the Student Centre reached its highest point. Outstanding design features such as the wooden staircase and timber flooring now in place.
A time capsule designed by pupils at Our Lady’s Catholic High School in Fulwood, Preston was planted into the foundations of the Student Centre as part of a Careers Week event led by contractor Bowmer + Kirkland.
Student Centre and University Square set to open
The Student Centre and University Square were officially opened.
Delivering our Masterplan
The opening of our Student Centre and University Square will mark the completion of our Masterplan project, which has been six years in the making. Our vision was to create a state-of-the-art, sustainable campus which would benefit our students, staff and surrounding communities for many years to come. This vision is about to be realised.
Six years ago we set out our ambitions to transform our Preston Campus to enable all our students to enjoy the best possible University experience, as well as strengthening our ability to make a positive contribution to local communities and the regional economy.
With the opening of University Square, we will be able to bring together the city and the University like never before, building on our close ties with the people of Preston and Lancashire, and creating brand new opportunities for individuals to realise their potential and transform their lives.
One of the first major milestones in achieving our Masterplan was the completion of our £35m Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) in 2019. The EIC, which sits just across from the Student Centre and University Square, brings together world-leading research, creative business minds and inspiring teaching in a spirit of collaboration and discovery. As well as strengthening Lancashire’s position as a national centre of excellence for aerospace, advanced engineering and manufacturing, the EIC is enabling our students to work on live projects with our industry partners and helping us to achieve our vision of training a new generation of top engineering talent.
Our Masterplan project has led to the following new developments on the Preston Campus:
- Student Centre and University Square
- Highways improvements to encircle and complement the Student Centre and University Square
- Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC)
- Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre
- New Social Spaces in Foster and Harrington Buildings
In addition to our Masterplan project, we have also invested in transforming the student experience on our Burnley Campus. Key developments include the acquisition and refurbishment of the historic Victoria Mill building and the opening of new student accommodation at Sandygate Hall.
