University begins move to £350 million SA1 Swansea Waterfront development

Specialist equipment from UWTSD’s Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering has started its journey to the university’s £350 million SA1 Swansea Waterfront development. In just a few months’ time, the university will welcome its first students to its new prime waterfront location.

SA1 will be the new home for the Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, Yr Athrofa, The Institute of Education, the library and the Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC).

Staff and students will relocate from the university’s Townhill and Mount Pleasant campus at the end of the summer term ready to start the new academic year in the exciting new city centre location. The University will retain a presence at Mount Pleasant and the University’s Faculty of Art & Design (Swansea College of Art) will remain on Alex Road along with a number of support functions including the Students’ Union. Swansea Business campus will operate as usual on High Street.

Work on the exciting SA1 development, is almost complete, with handover of the main academic building, called IQ and the new library, Y Fforwm, taking place next month.

Professor Michael Fernando, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering said:

“We are passionate about STEM, and very excited about the new purpose built SA1 Swansea Waterfront development and the opportunities it brings to the faculty. At SA1, the faculty will co-exist and co-create with industrial partners around the development. We will build further on this opportunity to create a Higher Education model that specialises in developing world-class industrial partnerships, excellence in STEM education and facilitates commercialisation and enterprise activities.

“This new model will also serve to re-skill and up-skill the existing Welsh workforce, starting at Swansea. The faculty has the potential to play a key role in sustaining and future-proofing Welsh-based STEM industries.”

Emyr Jones, UWTSD’s Senior Estates Manager (Development & Planning) said:

“The move of key, specialist machinery from the Mount Pleasant Campus signifies an important and exciting chapter in the transition to the new custom built facilities at SA1 Swansea Waterfront.  The planning and co-ordination of the move has been extensive and the scale of the transfer and the logistics involved has truly been impressive.   The move of the specialist machinery is just the start of proceedings and the focus will then cover the wider migration process that will conclude prior to the commencement of academic activities during late August.”