Sussex Campus is changing.

If you’ve been near the Student Centre recently, you’re sure to have noticed the works and diversions around the back of campus replacing what was once Park Village and York House. Maybe you live on campus and get to see the changes happening in real time. What’s to come is West Slope, a new development including a pavilion, a new library, a health centre and many other facilities.

I was able to go along to a drop-in session in the Student Centre with some of the architects and key staff members involved. The session gave students the opportunity to have a say on the look and feel of the new student spaces, including colours, fabrics, and layout.

There were VR models that people were able to interact with, with examples of a counselling space, cafe and study space, and the Health and Wellbeing centre. We were invited to discuss the designs, how they made us feel, and whether they were fit for purpose.

Student suggestions at the drop-in included having gentler lighting, having doors that close quietly and using minimalist designs to avoid distraction. A whole new development could be incongruous with the rest of campus, but one suggestion to use patterns and colours from nature could help to soften this. Students were able to draw on their experiences with the communal spaces we already have on campus and think about what they love about them, and what their possible shortcomings are.

It is an ambitious project, slated to be in construction up until 2028, but some parts of the development will be ready as soon as 2026. The plan is to open West Slope in stages, and take in more student feedback and input over the course of the developments. It is a large change for Sussex, but given the collaborative nature of the developments, it is an opportunity for current students to leave their mark on the Sussex campus for years to come.

Serena studies Law and French at Sussex. She is super passionate about music and poetry.