New university centre work starts

The building at UEA will be completed by the Autumn 2008

Work has started on a new £30m centre at the University of East Anglia (UEA) designed to attract overseas students.

The centre is due for completion in Autumn 2008 and contains multi-purpose lecture theatres, classrooms, IT and science laboratories.

Five-storey academic and residential buildings have been designed by LSI Architects of Norwich and London.

The centre is part of the INTO scheme aimed at improving the UK's performance in attracting international students.

INTO already has a temporary base at UEA with some 350 overseas students studying the English language and academic foundation programmes in preparation for university courses.

The international student intake for the current academic year represents an increase of 176% over 2006/2007.

David Thompson, of LSI Architects said: "The plans for the new INTO international school were drawn up following lengthy negotiations and consultation particularly with local residents.

"The 415 study bedrooms (including some specially equipped for wheelchair users, and others designed for resident tutors) have been configured in clusters of up to 12 in order to encourage social interaction around communal kitchen-diners."