Transformation of 1950s building to a deliver a new kind of student experience

The University of Leicester’s award-winning Percy Gee Students’ Union Building, which has undergone a £17million redesign, is to be formally unveiled on 17 March.

President of the National Union of Students Aaron Porter, a Leicester graduate, will open the redesigned building which had originally been opened in 1958 by HM The Queen.

At the same time, the unveiling of a sculpture by honorary graduate Deirdre  Hubbard FRBS Touching Pair, will take place.

Students take pride of place in the multi-million pound new development designed to ensure that the university student experience at Leicester is second to none. It has transformed a building with 35 different floor levels over five storeys into a state-of-the-art facility.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Robert Burgess said: “I am delighted to see the transformation of the Percy Gee Building as the Students’ Union which is fit for purpose for many generations of students.  The building speaks of the vibrancy of student life and will enhance the experience of Leicester’s students.”

“Students everywhere are coming to university wanting more than just a degree,” says Professor Helen Atkinson, Chair of the Percy Gee project redevelopment team. “They are concerned about the whole lifestyle of being a student – from the particular bands that have gigged at the Union right the way through to whether the University has Fairtrade Status. What is dubbed ‘The Student Experience’ is in the higher education spotlight. This development, and the large investment the University has made in it, will place the University of Leicester at the forefront of developing the best student experience for its students and will help us to consolidate our position as one of the top universities in the UK.

Stephanie Chua, Strategy and Communications Officer of the Students’ Union, added: “Having been a student here for the past three years, it has been amazing to see the transformation in all its stages. I am proud of everything the Students’ Union has achieved, and am confident students will enjoy the new facilities for many years to come.”

Trevor Page, Chief Executive of the Students’ Union said: “The new Percy Gee Building provides the space for the best student experience for the University of Leicester.  The commitment and investment from the University has given students one of the best Students’ Union in the country, from the new venue, retail spaces, the Activities Resource Centre and the fantastic square that provides the Living Room of the campus.”

The transformation project, designed by architect Shepheard Epstein Hunter and constructed by Morgan Sindall plc, has changed the Percy Gee into a thriving multi-purpose Union building at the entrance to the campus.

A stunning new central atrium bathed in natural light and  incorporating a social meeting place  forms the centrepiece of the new development. It includes a new terrace with panoramic views over the City, new Activities Resources Centre and new restaurant called  ‘1923’ after  the year the Students’ Union was founded. The building boasts a clutch of environmental features.

In addition a 1,750 capacity live music and club venue, the O2 Academy, with additional venues, O2 Academy2 Leicester (500 capacity) and O2 Academy3 (for 250 patrons) is a highlight of the facility.

There are new shops and improved Accommodation Agency, Welfare Advice Service and  Education Unit services among a host of other facilities.

Gordon Ray, regional managing director at Morgan Sindall plc, says:  “This was an ambitious and complex project, which was delivered on time and to budget, in and around a fully functioning student union.

“We are very proud of the finished product, which has to be one of the finest students’ union buildings in the country. It’s been particularly pleasing to see the fantastic reaction the new music venues have received from the university’s students and the wider community.”

A key feature of the Students’ Union development has been the level of engagement and support shown by alumni, parents and friends of the University who have raised thousands of pounds  to help complete and equip the new building. The start of the construction work was an historic occasion as generations of the Gee family gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony. The Gee family already has strong links with the University as the current Students’ Union is named in honour of their forefather, Percy Gee, who was one of the original founders of the University.

The official opening by Aaron Porter will bring together students, staff, alumni, supporters, benefactors and those involved in the building project. Speaking ahead of the opening Aaron Porter said: “It is a privilege to formally open the redesigned building having been involved with the project from its very inception. I have had an opportunity to see the progress of the construction and the University of Leicester can now proudly boast one of – if not the very best – student facilities to accompany an exceptional student experience.

“The University of Leicester ranks very highly for student satisfaction and the students’ union is at the heart of the offer for students.  In my years at Leicester I had a fantastic experience, and now look forward to seeing many future generations of students gain academically and personally during their time at University.”

The sculpture that will be unveiled is by Deirdre Hubbard whose work has frequently been exhibited  by the University as part of the Annual Sculpture Exhibition in the University’s Botanical Gardens.

The Percy Gee Project has won the 2010 Leicester Civic Society Award for Architecture complementing the Historic Built Environment of the City of Leicester. The Civic Society panel found ‘An exciting new building constructed on an extremely difficult and sensitive site almost ringed by listed buildings in the University Campus and the historic parkland of the Welford Road Cemetery. The building is large and of a striking design yet manages to be almost unobtrusive in its setting.’