Anglia Ruskin University

Lord Ashcroft Building

This creative development opened in August 2011. It wraps around the centre of the campus; expanding and re-vamping our estate to create a totally new student experience. An inspiring, flexible, yet sustainable environment, this state-of-the-art development includes new lecture theatres, modern teaching facilities, comfortable meeting places and bright new rehearsal spaces - a really great place to study and work

The Lord Ashcroft building has new facilities and lecture theatres for the use of all students and Faculties. It houses the iCentre, includes a new main entrance to the library, has a large open access computer area, and by linking with surrounding buildings it improves access routes through the campus.

The building houses the Lord Ashcroft International Business School. We are delighted that Lord Ashcroft, the Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University, donated £5 million to assist us in developing this landmark building for business and commerce within the East of England. Equipped with the latest learning technologies, it is an ideal environment for any budding entrepreneur or business student. This showpiece building is a good match for its award-winning counterpart on our Chelmsford campus.

Our external spaces are just as important to us as our internal spaces and we have created a lively central courtyard. It is a great place to meet up with friends and colleagues, or just to sit quietly and soak up the atmosphere.

Helmore extension

Completed in 2005, the Helmore building extension was the first phase of our plans to redevelop our Cambridge campus. This creative development opens up a gateway to the heart of the campus. This new internal walkway, known as The Street, is a light airy place with a welcoming reception area accessed directly from East Road.

The new extension provided much needed high quality teaching space and offices, new space for the Music Therapy Department, complete with a suite of individual, acoustically separated music practice rooms, plus a Languages Resource Centre and a Student Centre.

It houses a spacious, glass fronted refectory on the ground floor and a coffee shop on the first floor balcony (both vital to general well-being!) as well as giving access to the whole of the Helmore building and on to the rest of the campus.

We were delighted to have Bill Rammell, MP for Harlow and former Higher Education Minister to officially open the new music and arts facility in December 2005.