The University of Sussex’s Student Centre is the go-to place for students to access information, advice and guidance services on campus whilst providing warm, comfortable and inviting spaces for students to study and meet with friends. With state-of-the-art facilities, the building has quickly become the heart of student life at Sussex since it opened its doors in April 2022.
The Student Centre has now been shortlisted for the FX International Interior Design Awards 2022, under the ‘Public Sector’ category. The prestigious FX Awards invite architects and designers from all over the world to enter the very best of interior products and projects. Previous winners in the public sector category include the Cancer Centre at Guy Hospital (2017), the Royal Academy of Music theatre and recital hall (2018), and Wadham College (Oxford) undergraduate and access centres (2021).
Designed by the architect studio ADP, the new Student Centre opened its doors in April 2022. With spaces to suit every student, the building was designed to help create a sense of belonging and support neurodiversity, inclusivity and wellbeing. These criteria were applied from the materials and colour palette chosen to the type of spaces created, such as the beach huts in the atrium and the peaceful courtyard. The Student Centre also has one of the few Changing Place Toilets in Brighton and Hove.
Therese Reinheimer-Jones, Associate Director of Student Engagement and Achievement, explained:
“The key driver for the design of the Student Centre was the student experience. It’s important that students have appropriate and flexible spaces that nurture and support them in their academic and student life. We didn’t just want to create a building, we wanted to create positive and engaging experiences for our students.”
The student voice is also at the heart of the Student Centre. During the first two weeks of the summer term, a team of Student Connectors ran a survey among the students using the Student Centre. All the participants thought that the new Student Centre was a safe and comfortable space, and that it felt welcoming. 98% said that the facilities (e.g. the Heat and Eat area) worked well for them, and 93% of participants planned to use the Centre regularly.
Your feedback also helped us identify certain areas that could be improved. As a result of the survey, we have:
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increased the number of power outlets, plugs and data points across the ground floor
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upgraded the cabling and checked the WiFi access points, so we now have good or excellent WiFi coverage in all areas.
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and we’re looking at how we can best use the space to increase the amount of seating
You can read more about other improvements we’ve made in the Student Centre in our’You Said, We did report’, and find other ways in which student feedback is making an impact at Sussex on the Student Hub.
Our Connectors ran a similar survey again at the beginning of this academic term and we’re currently reviewing your feedback to make the Student Centre even more comfortable and useful for you.
Our Student Connectors are also working on creating a Student Centre Committee which will represent student groups from around the university and will be a forum to discuss feedback and usage, with input from the Student Centre & Hub Manager.
The winners of the FX International Interior Design Awards 2022 will be announced on 30 November.