Sustainability is at the heart of Queen Margaret University’s new RE: Locate campus project. The main building and the combined students’ union and sports centre achieved an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating. At the time of its assessment, RE:Locate was the highest scoring university project in the UK. The campus is on sustainable parkland and aims to have as low a carbon footprint as possible and be a model of biodiversity. All materials were chosen for suitability, sustainability and durability and 10,000 square metres of Marmoleum were installed in the main campus building and in student accommodation.

PLANS UNVEILED FOR £80M INNOVATION HUB SUPPORTING 13,000 JOBS AT QUEEN MARGARET UNIVERSITY

10 DESIGN’s masterplan will create a new place that will serve the university, the local community, and new businesses.

Queen Margaret University (QMU) has released new images by architect and masterplanner, 10 DESIGN, of the commercial and innovation hubs, which could support up to 13,000 jobs. The University prepared a Masterplan and Delivery Strategy (MDS) and has put forward a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) for an investment ready business hub on the land adjacent to its Musselburgh campus it believes is needed to drive sustainable economic development that will benefit communities in East Edinburgh, Lothian, and Border regions.

Queen Margaret University Principal Professor, Petra Wend said: “We have drawn on international best practice in developing our plans. A £1bn city region deal bid has been submitted by Edinburgh and the south east area of Scotland which concentrates on the region’s strengths of knowledge culture and technology. Although still in its early stage, we are confident that if the deal progresses that our proposals would be relevant for inclusion.’

Paul Rodgers, Design Director at 10 DESIGN, adds “As we continue to grow our studio in the UK It has been exciting to work with Queen Margaret University on what will be a key project for not only the University but also for the local community and the region as a whole.”

The creation of the 45,000 sqm mixed use commercial and innovation hubs located at the gateway to the University campus will create a vibrant area that combines innovation activity with the support of the University’s academic resources together with local amenities. It will enhance the life of students and staff at the university, and to provide a new local centre for the established community and the potential new community.

The design includes new streets and squares, reinforces existing routes, and creates new bus and pedestrian connections to future developments and will provide a range of facilities including retail, coffee shops, health and fitness, hotel, schools, carparks, and residential accommodation.

At the heart of the masterplan is the creation of the innovation hub that is part of a broader commercial development adjacent to QMU that will provide a range of services and amenities to students and the community adjacent to QMU. Over time the innovation hub will become one of the region’s largest specialist providers supporting the country’s growing knowledge and innovation economy, creating high-value jobs and business opportunities together with significant revenue generation and capital value for investors.

Given its prominent location and transport links to London, the innovation hub will be uniquely positioned to become a natural home for knowledge and innovation enterprise emerging from the hub and for companies wishing to move to co-locate with the region’s unrivalled research and commercial excellence.

Phase One of the innovation hub is the development of the 5,000 sqm Innovation Centre which will comprise grade A office suites, Category One laboratories, workshops, and meeting rooms/conferencing facilities.

The Innovation Centre will provide opportunities for students to embrace the innovation and enterprise culture and explore the possibilities of commercialising new ideas as part of their educational experience. The Innovation Centre will provide a home for enterprise initiatives, events and workshops and will showcase the inspirational, innovative students and staff from across the University.

When built, QMU will be positioned as one of the most advanced Innovation and Education-led mixed use hub serving the needs of students, staff, employers, employees, existing and future residents and visitors, focusing on research, learning, job creation and associated commercial uses, all contributing to the creation of a new place.