University of the West of Scotland's new £70 million Ayr Campus has entered the final phase of development, with a topping out ceremony taking place at the new campus site recently.

The ceremony marked the structural completion of the new 18,000m2 campus by project contractor Bovis Lend Lease UK. The campus is being developed by University of the West of Scotland (UWS) in partnership with Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and is situated on the Craigie Estate, next to the River Ayr.

South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan said: "I was very honoured to be asked to take part in this significant ceremony. The topping out ceremony will become an historic moment in the life of University of the West of Scotland's new Ayr Campus.

"I am positive that having such an environmentally friendly building, with up to the minute facilities located in such pleasant surroundings will encourage increased numbers of students to apply to study there. In turn many of these students may decide once they graduate to live and work in Ayr or South Ayrshire, which will bring economic benefits to the area."

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Planned and designed by leading Scottish-based architects RMJM, and part-funded by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the development will see SAC joining UWS on the site. Shared facilities will include teaching and learning spaces, gym, refectory, library and computing labs.

The new Campus is part of the University's £250million development programme and replaces its existing campus on the edge of the estate. It will create an innovative learning environment for over 4000 students.

Developed in consultation with the Natural Garden Society, Historic Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the new Campus will provide Ayrshire with one of the UK's most modern, environmentally friendly and sustainable Higher Education learning environments.

The new building is designed to the highest environmental rating – BREEAM Excellent (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) – adopting sustainable strategies within the design and operation of the new building.

Professor Seamus McDaid, Principal and Vice Chancellor of University of the West of Scotland, said: "We are delighted that our new Ayr campus, which will result in massive benefits not just for the University but the west of Scotland, is in the final phase of development.

"This unique campus facility will enable us to expand our course provision and develop an international dimension to our operations in Ayr, with a campus that will attract students from across the globe."

(GK)