Keele plans new engineering facility to support hands-on learning

Keele University is developing a new specialist facility to support the launch of its engineering degree programmes.

The new space will be created inside the existing Lennard-Jones building and will house a state-of-the-art laboratory for the disciplines of chemical, electrical, mechanical and mechatronic engineering.

The facility will include fabrication workshops, 3D printing capabilities, a dedicated design suite, and collaborative workspaces, providing students with enhanced opportunities for hands-on learning.

The university announced in October it was launching a suite of new engineering degrees, which will have their first intake in September. The new courses offer students a full range of engineering specialisms to prepare them for the modern engineering landscape and a variety of applications.

Professor Tasnim Munshi, Head of the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at Keele, said the facility would transform the learning experience for students.

"I am incredibly excited about the opportunities this new engineering facility will create for our students," she said. "They will have access to spaces designed for hands-on learning, creativity and collaboration.

"By bringing together specialist labs, advanced fabrication workshops and dedicated design areas, students will be able to move seamlessly from theory to practical application - testing ideas, developing prototypes and gaining experience with the technologies used in industry today.

"This facility will equip our students with the skills, confidence and collaborative mindset needed to succeed as the next generation of engineers."

Castle Owen have been appointed to lead the project’s design, with Interclass being appointed as the main works contractor.