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Al Qasimi Building
CGI artist impression of what the building may look like
CGI artist impression of what the building may look like
Al Qasimi
The University of 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ has received a from His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, to fully fund the construction of a new development on 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s Streatham Campus. The proposed building will extend from the Institute of ) which His Highness has funded previously. New spaces will enhance 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s international reputation in Area Studies, and in particular its work in culture, languages and heritage. The Academic Vision of this focuses on building on our existing strengths in contributing to the United Nations ‘Sustainable Development Goals in the Global South’, which embodies the University’s core values of Greener, Healthier, Fairer. We have been ranked Top 10 in the world for our progress towards this goal in the 2024 THE impact rankings.
The Al Qasimi Building will be a new focal point for 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s student community. It will provide an inclusive space for all students to gather, interact and learn in a setting that celebrates diversity, interconnectivity, and sustainability.
The new spaces will enhance 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s international reputation in Area Studies and in particular its work in culture, languages and heritage. Uniquely, the facilities will incorporate academics and students from across 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s three faculties, with a particular research focus on the Middle East region and the Global South. 
As part of the University’s Strategy 2030, the University has identified the opportunity to further develop the academic teaching and research facilities already being offered within the IAIS building: ‘We will work with partners, students, and alumni across our campuses, our region, and the world in our pursuit of new knowledge, opportunities, and impact’.
The adjacent site to the current IAIS building, within the Jubilee Gardens, has been identified as the most suitable area for the new building. Inside the building, we are proposing to have a combination of formal and informal teaching spaces. It is expected to also have research space and collaborative zones, as well as a café.
The building will provide panoramic views West across the campus to the Whitcombe Way Valley Park and Exwick Woods beyond and will be designed to a low carbon construction standard and achieve Passivhaus certification requirements. We will also look to enhance pedestrian routes through the area from the West side of campus to central areas.
We expect to start construction from June 2026 and complete ahead of the 2028/29 academic year (subject to change).
As with all University estate projects, mitigation measures are put in place to minimise dust and noise from a construction site where possible. We work with contractors that are part of the , to ensure they have high standards in managing risks, protecting the environment and positive relationships with the local community. This project will be registered with the and monitored in accordance with the scheme's code of considerate practice.
Upcoming works
We expect to start construction from June 2026 and complete ahead of the 2028/29 academic year (subject to change).
Our appointed contractors, Galliford Try, will begin in June by setting up the construction site area in the Diamond Jubilee International Garden and installing their compound for deliveries in the Reed Hall car park (behind Reed Hall) and a welfare area behind Mardon Hall (in an area where a training room used to be located). There will also be small welfare facilities on Mardon Hill (on the grassed areas next to Mardon Hall).
There are some important changes to pedestrian and vehicle access and parking in the area that we need to make you aware of:
- The Diamond Jubilee International Garden area will be closed and fenced off in early June. There will be no access to the garden and footpaths leading to the garden will be closed.
- There will be footpath diversions in place in the area which will be clearly signposted. Footpaths will be diverted up Mardon Hill, around the IAIS building or in front of Reed Hall.
- Mardon Hill will become a single lane for vehicles and traffic light controlled.
- Car parking changes – Reed Hall car park (behind the building and the road leading to the car park) will be closed. Car parking bays at the side of Mardon Hall (next to Mardon Hill) and the parking bays on Mardon Hill, opposite the Wellbeing Centre, will be closed. We are considering options to relocate the accessible car parking bays in the area and we will provide more details soon. Car parking in Reed Hall Mews will remain unchanged. The Reed Hall car park on Streatham Drive is for event visitors only.
- The working hours of the construction team will be Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00 (with contractors arriving from 07:30) and Saturdays from 08:00 to 13:00. There may be some weekend and out of hours working when needed and this activity will be communicated to key stakeholders in the area.
Please see site map below:
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we progress the project.
Construction update
The construction work is taking place during normal working hours, Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00 (with contractors arriving from 07:30) and Saturdays from 08:00 to 13:00. There may be some weekend and out of hours working when needed and this activity will be communicated to key stakeholders in the area.
In the table below are the details of the upcoming work:
Please note: The dates and information are updated regularly but are subject to change at short notice, due to weather conditions and working with external contractors.
|
Date |
Details |
Noise levels |
|
Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 July |
The team continue to set up fencing in the Diamond Jubilee International garden, Reed Hall car park, and surrounding areas. From Tuesday 21 July, traffic lights will be set up on Mardon Hill to make the road single lane for vehicles. This is to enable safety barriers to be installed on the road for the duration of the project. A small team will be working in the alleyway behind the Reed Mews Wellbeing building to prepare the area and pour a concrete slab. We expect concrete deliveries on Wednesday 22 July, the vehicle may stop for a short period on Mardon Hill. This will create medium noise. We do suggest that blinds/curtains are drawn on windows that look on to the alleyway, as the team will be walking past the area regularly. The team will also walk through the vaulted wall area and in and out of the gate in the wall that leads to the Reed Hall Mews courtyard. Timelapse cameras will be installed on the IAIS Terrace and on the roof of Mardon Hall. This will create low noise in the area. The timelapse cameras will capture the progress of the construction. |
Low to Medium |
|
Monday 27 to Friday 31 July |
The team will continue installing fencing and hoarding in the area. A small team will begin to build a wall to prop the vault area in the alleyway behind the Reed Mews Wellbeing building. The team will begin removing the cobbles in the Jubilee garden area and preparing to demolish some of the buildings. This will be done by hand and using a small machine. This will create intermittent medium noise. The cobbles are being retained and reused in the external landscaping around the new building. On Monday evening, a bat specialist will visit the site to support relocating any remaining bats. Most of the bats in the area have relocated to the purpose-built bat house next to the footpath at the top of Mardon Hill. |
Medium to High |
Contact us
Roger Ball is the Project Manager for the project.
If you have any queries or questions about the project please email AlQasimiBuilding@exeter.ac.uk and we will get back to you.