Queen’s Grand Design

Minister for the Environment, Arlene Foster MLA, with Professor Peter Gregson, Vice-Chancellor (right) and Professor David Cleland Queen’s unveiled a new £1 million suite of design studios as part of an investment in facilities for students in the University’s School of Planning, Architecture, and Civil Engineering (SPACE).The opening is part of a new vision for the future of architectural education at Queen’s.

Based in the University’s David Keir Building, the new state-of-the-art studios will create greater opportunities for collaboration between students of architecture, civil engineering and planning. Providing flexible bright accommodation for students to work on projects, store models and exhibit work for critique, the new studios will also allow students to organise work stations and furniture for either group working or individual endeavour.
“The opening of these new studios demonstrates the University’s commitment to the provision of an outstanding student experience in architecture, planning and civil engineering. This investment will ensure the continued supply of highly skilled graduates in professions which play a key role in supporting the Northern Ireland economy.”
Professor David Cleland, Head of SPACE added: “Design is a key element of all three professions represented in SPACE. There is enormous benefit to be gained in students from different disciplines collaborating in a way that re-flects how it happens in practice. The new facilities open the way for running exciting collaborative projects.
“Recent evidence of the excellent design skills possessed by our students is the award of first place to a second year student Sean McNeary by the Architects Association of Ireland.”