A ROYAL with an interest in architecture visit officially launched a £16m university building project.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester arrived at the town centre campus to give the seal of approval to the university’s new business school.
Work was halted on the partly-constructed building as the Duke was given a full tour of the campus accompanied by local dignitaries and university chancellor Sir Patrick Stewart.
Crowds of students, lecturers and builders gathered by the banks of the canal as the Duke – a former architect – unveiled the Foundation Stone for the new building.
He said: “It’s a very great pleasure for me to come to this splendid town and play a very small role in launching this half-built building.
“I’m very pleased that when it comes to university buildings the architects take design seriously.
“Clearly business students are going to be even more important in the years to come when, as a nation, we have to compete in a very competitive world and we have to keep one jump ahead.
“You have here a building on a very grand site and it has a very important purpose.
“I wish the very best of luck to all who come here to learn and may I congratulate all those who played a part in its creation.”
Vice chancellor Prof Bob Cryan said the new premises reflected the growing demand for business courses at the university.
He said: “Business is increasingly popular and we would like to give our 3,800 business students a brand new home.
“We do world class work here so we deserve a world class building.”
The building, which is between Firth Street and Huddersfield Narrow Canal, is set to be opened in September next year and will offer students novel new facilities including a mock court for law students and spectacular views from its roof terrace.
It is part of an overall £150m modernisation programme and is set to conform to tough eco-tests throughout its sustainable design and energy-saving technologies.
The project will also see wildlife around the campus boosted through the introduction of bat roosts, bird boxes and planting of native shrubs and seeds.
Following the unveiling, The Duke was joined by dignitaries, including the Mayor of Kirklees Clr Julie Stewart-Turner, the Vice-Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire John Brennan and Examiner Editor Roy Wright for a lunch made by the university’s chefs.
The 45 guests enjoyed a fair trade roast dinner and The Duke was then presented with a special chocolate and mayonaise cake by former Huddersfield University business student Allison Whitmarsh who set up her own cake-making business called Proper Maid which is based in Marsh.
Earlier The Duke visited landscaping company Marshalls at its Elland headquarters where he was given a presentation on the history of the company and shown some of their sustainable landscaping designs and installations throughout the UK.
