New Simon lecture theatres provide major addition to teaching space
31 Oct 2013
The opening of three new lecture theatres in the basement of the Simon Building on 4 November 2013 will mark the latest stage in a series of major developments in student study and teaching facilities on the University campus.
These new teaching spaces provide seating for nearly 1,000 students: 400 in Simon lecture theatre A, 331 in Simon lecture theatre B, and 198 in Simon lecture theatre C.
A number of major engineering challenges had to be overcome during their construction, including the replacement of building basement support pillars that would have obstructed the view of those being taught.
Bookings for the new lecture theatres will be handled by:
The CTS team has arranged for audio visual support to be present for the start of each class during the opening week.
Professor Clive Agnew, Vice President for Teaching, Learning and Students, said:
“It’s timely to remember that the building was named after Lord Ernest Simon of Wythenshawe, who had a long association with the University and endowed the University's Simon Fund to provide research fellowships. His wife, Shena Potter, who opened the building in 1961, is commemorated in the name of its café - "Potter's".
He added: “I’d like to thank colleagues and students who have had to manage with interim accommodation while the new theatres were being completed.”
The Simon lecture theatres follow the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons as the latest in a series of major developments in student study and teaching facilities, while the upgrade to WiFi across campus continues. In addition, an e-assessment computer cluster for online examinations has been installed on level six of the Simon Building and six additional teaching rooms in the Zochonis Building and upgrades to six teaching rooms in Dover Street are nearing completion.
Recognising the need to make further improvements, the University is also planning to create 13 new teaching rooms on floors four and five of the Simon Building for the next academic year. In the longer term, refurbishments are planned for teaching spaces in the Samuel Alexander Building, the Manchester Business School and Coupland 3.
Finally, architects have just been appointed to design the New Teaching Building to be built by 2016 next to the Alan Turing Building as part of:
A process of student and staff consultation on the New Teaching Building will commence later in the autumn.