Green Gown Awards 2020 - De Montfort University - Highly Commended

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Campus Transformation - A campus for the 21st Century 

We believe our campus is one of the finest in the country - we have invested £136 million to make it an exciting, sustainable, and inspiring place in which to study and work. The campus redevelopment has created quality areas of public realm as well as enhancing a main arterial walking and cycling route into the heart of the city of Leicester. DMU’s campus blends the historical and the new, reflecting the great tradition of our home city and its buildings. 

The centrepiece is the stunning Vijay Patel Building which achieved BREEAM Excellent standard and incorporates renewable energy technology, sustainable urban drainage, sustainable construction, and new green space in the city. Additionally, our Hugh Aston building has achieved this standard which was the highest standard it could achieve at the time of construction.  

We have also spent £4.2 million restoring the Grade 1 Listed Leicester Castle, located at the edge of our campus, giving new life to this historic gem, and making it the base for our Leicester Castle Business School. 

Top 3 learnings:

1. Our campus transformation identified opportunities early in the process. 
2. Our project team consulted widely to involve staff and students in the project. 
3. We worked closely with the planning authority to produce a shared vision which has been delivered.