New Magee facility to cater for up to 1,000

A new contractor has now commenced on site beside Magee’s current library, with the facility set to be opened at some stage in 2017.

Speaking about the £11m investment, a spokesperson for Ulster University told the Journal:

“The new development will provide modern teaching and learning facilities including a 340 seat lecture theatre, two smaller lecture theatres, a number of classrooms, three student hubs for informal learning, study and group work and a café.

“The new teaching and learning facility will accommodate up to 1000 students.”

Speaking about the significance of the project, the spokesperson added:

“Ulster University is committed to maximising the potential of its Magee campus.

“This investment will further support the development of the campus as a globally recognised hub of teaching excellence, collaboration, innovation and world-leading research.”

Work on the two-year build project had to be suspended earlier this year after one of the firms involved, Newtonabbey-based T&A Kernoghan Limited, ran into difficulties and administrators were appointed.

The 4,0000 sq metre teaching block was approved by former Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry in April 2015.

Mr Farry said at the time the project was “a strong signal of the importance of the Magee campus to the economy in the north west.”