The Lord Mayor of Norwich poured beer on the roof of the Julian Study Centre to celebrate Kier reaching the highest point on the University of East Anglia's (UEA) latest low energy building.

Coucillor Keith Driver used a bottle of ale specially brewed by Woodforde's Brewery of Woodbastwick to celebrate the university’s 50th anniversary.

The new study centre has been named after a notable historical figure from the region - the anchoress Julian of Norwich - who is believed to be the first woman to publish a book in the English language.


The Julian Study Centre will be the most environmentally advanced building on campus to date. Covering 2,000sq m over four floors, it will feature a traditional 280-seat lecture theatre alongside an 80-seat Harvard-style lecture theatre. It will also include seven seminar rooms, a café and a number of break-out spaces.

Professor Nigel Norris, pro-vice-chancellor for academic affairs at UEA, said: "The Julian Study Centre will provide future generations of students with state-of-the-art facilities in which to learn, grow and make the most of the academic experience here on campus. It also continues our commitment to constructing environmentally friendly and sustainable buildings."

Due to open in October, the £6.9m building has been constructed to meet the need for further first-class teaching facilities on campus. It has been built to the highest sustainable criteria, using Termodeck design. Kier has also used Passivhaus techniques and the building will comply with BREEAM certification guidelines.

(CD/JP)