Pictured above: 3D immersive technology in action, a new
service for businesses soon to be available at The University of
Northampton (image courtesy of HoloVis International Ltd)
Work is progressing well on a £11 million project at The
University of Northampton, designed to provide a technological
boost for both students and businesses across the county.
The Grade II-listed Kingsley Park building on St George's Avenue
is being completely refurbished and developed into a technology and
research centre that will provide an extended home for the
University's School of Applied Sciences.
In addition Kingsley Park will house the University's new
'Nvision' centre - a state-of-the-art facility providing specialist
services to help companies of all sizes develop and promote their
products using the latest 3D modelling and visualisation
capabilities.
Nvision Manager, Stuart Wayne, explains: "Nvision will include a
suite of immersive virtual reality technologies, underpinned by
technical resources and extensive expertise at the University. It
will offer significant and exciting benefits to a host of
industries, including health, motorsport, games, architectural and
environmental organisations - to name just a few.
"We plan to have an immersive 3D technology demonstrator unit in
place by the beginning of 2010, enabling us to run a series of
showcase activities for prospective clients. At the heart of this
project is the fact this is the first time in the UK that Small to
Medium Size Enterprises will have access to this level of
technology."
There will also be additional opportunities for external
technology-focused companies to base themselves within the building
through a series of new business innovation units. The venture is
being further supported by a close strategic partnership with the
British Institute of Non Destructive Testing (BINDT).
The Kingsley Park project, which is expected to be occupied and
fully operational by April 2010, has been designed by leading
county practice GSSArchitecture, working to a brief of 'creating an
environment for businesses to work closely with the University
while utilising the latest IT facilities and systems.
This Kingsley Park building development adds to the recent
£3 million expansion of the Portfolio Innovation Centre,
based at the University's Avenue Campus, which now offers space to
house up to 46 of the region's most exciting creative, digital and
design companies.
Professor Kamal Bechkoum, Dean of Applied Sciences at the
University, added: "We are delighted with the prospective move to
the Kingsley Park site, which is good news for our staff, students
and businesses in the region.
"The move will no doubt have a positive impact on shaping the
learning environment we need to deliver high quality and
contemporary Science and Technology education that is innovative
and responsive to the needs of individual students, employers and
society. Partnerships with employers and organizations like the
BiNDT, coupled with state of the art facilities like the Nvision
visualisation unit will definitely enrich our students' learning
experience."
Matt Gallagher, Chief Executive of the British Institute of
Non-Destructive Testing, said: "We have been working closely with
the University for some time with the aim of developing a centre of
excellence in Northampton for education in advanced testing
disciplines. The new facility at Kingsley Park will provide a
superb focal point for this and it will certainly raise the profile
of Northampton and the county internationally."
Funding for the Kingsley Park Building scheme has come from the
Higher Education Funding Council, Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd,
the East Midlands Development Agency, and the European Regional
Development Fund. The development also has the backing of the West
Northamptonshire Development Corporation.