Osborne Wins Prestigious Project at University of Roehampton

Brand new halls of residence and a landmark library building are to be constructed within the next three years by the University of Roehampton as part of an overall £80m investment programme across its 54 acre Wandsworth campus.

Osborne will carry out the £38m construction work for the library and accommodation buildings, at the University’s Digby Stuart college. This is the central focus of a masterplan to modernise facilities, confirming Roehampton as one of the most attractive, up-to-date and ‘user-friendly’ campuses in London.

The new student accommodation will see 388 rooms built around two courtyards in the centre of the University’s parkland site. All will be en-suite and are based on sets of seven to nine room flats with shared dining and social space.  A conference centre will be included to further enhance the academic excellence of the University. The purpose-built library will house the University’s extensive book, audio visual, and journal collections. The completed building will provide state-of-the-art facilities inside a visually impressive home which will make clear Roehampton’s commitment to world leading research and learning.

John Craig, Director of Education for Osborne said: “This is an opportunity to create a lasting legacy, not just for the University but also for the local community. Osborne are thrilled to have won these projects and we look forward to working with the University.”

Dr Ghazwa Alwani-Starr, Director of Estates and Campus Services at the University of Roehampton, said: “Our students’ surroundings are key to their university experience so we’re planning the biggest regeneration of the heart of our campus for decades.” “We’re determined that within three years, working with Osborne, who are well respected, we will provide attractive, modern, on campus accommodation and a library befitting our status as a growing university with internationally-recognised research departments. “This is significant investment and a sign of the senior management’s confidence in the University’s future and its drive to thrive and produce highly employable graduates.”

The University’s grounds and the new library will be available to the public to visit and use for research and reading.

Subject to planning consent from Wandsworth Council, work is due to start on the four and five storey accommodation buildings in January 2015, with completion in July 2016. Work on the library will start 12 months later with a similar timespan. Initial enabling work will be carried out this winter for both projects, which are within sight of each other.