At Hightown Group we’ve had the great privilege over the last few decades of working with some universities that are at the cutting edge of education. Our projects in this area have included major refurbishments, both inside and out, as well as state of the art new builds. We’ve been at the forefront of innovation and desing for partners such as Liverpool John Moore’s University, Liverpool Hope University and Wakefield College.

There are several ways in which investing in a new building can help your university deliver a better service to your students and improve capability.

Attracting the Right Students and Staff

Investing in university infrastructure is vital to keep up with the changing face of higher education. Many establishments have to work with a wide range of building stock that is not necessarily fit for purpose any more but which they do their best to ‘bend’ to their needs. A refurbishment can, of course, provide an important facelift that helps in the meantime, but often a more tailored build is required.

Students are now paying up to £9,000 or more a year for their education and have become highly selective when they come to decide on the right university. Top students in particular pay a good deal of attention to infrastructure as well as the ability of the teaching staff and the other facilities provided.

A Tailored Building That Fits Your Needs

A new build can be designed and constructed to meet specific needs. With old buildings it’s often a case of making hard choices that depend largely on the existing construction. It can work but starting from scratch, though a big undertaking, can provide a greater degree of flexibility and a more tailored, appropriate solution. For faculties that have a clear vision of the future, a new building provides the opportunity to make a real statement to the outside world and provide teaching staff and students with the high grade facilities they need.

Greener Credentials

Reducing your university’s carbon footprint has become important over the last two decades. Educational establishments have been at the forefront of this revolution not only because it helps to reduce costs but because young students, who are more fervent advocates, demand it. New builds can be designed to meet the latest strict standards for energy efficiency and boost the credentials of your campus.

Building for the Future

Of course, new buildings are an investment in the future. In the past, universities had to make the best with what they had. Now with more money available because of increased fees, executives are able to make bolder decisions, develop strong educational strategies for the future and commission the kind of buildings that help them deliver top quality university courses.

Boosting Recruitment

There’s no doubt that students expect more nowadays. Those with good qualifications are more likely to look at several places before they make their final choice. Part of that decision making process will inevitably be made on the facilities that a particular university offers. Many establishments are now investing in their infrastructure so that they deliver value for money to their undergraduates and those value added extras that make a real difference. There is a lot of competition nowadays to provide high quality facilities that turns heads – whether that’s in health, science, media, law or any other undergraduate or postgraduate sector. It also says that your university is open for business, forward thinking and at the cutting edge of education and research in the UK.