News
West Slope is already improving campus
Posted on behalf of: Better Campus Team
Last updated: Tuesday, 30 July 2024
West Slope may be under construction, but campus is already benefiting
West Slope aims to enhance the student experience on campus by adding new modern student accommodation, a new purpose-built Health and Wellbeing Centre and a new café and larger supermarket and will help to make campus more accessible and more sustainable.
Benefiting from West Slope
West Slope may be under construction, but campus is already benefiting from this transformational project.
Over the last two years we have been upgrading essential utilities such as gas, water, and power.Overcoming complex challenges presented by 60-year-old infrastructure, and whilst keeping a busy campus running, a staggering 1034m of new water mains, 1000m new electrical cabling, 650m new heating pipework, 550m of new drainage and 540m gas pipework have been installed, ensuring these hidden but vital services have the resilience to serve campus for decades to come.
Key university services have also been moved and improved, ensuring students are already benefitting from West Slope, including:
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A new student laundrette next to Swanborough residences;
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A new Basketball Court next to Northfield residences;
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A new children’s playgroundnear to family accommodation;
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A new Security Centre and 24/7 residential reception in Bramber House;
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Relocated the Print Unit to Hastings; and
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Relocated Roots Student Garden.
Getting ready to build West Slope - University of Sussex from Creating a better campus on Vimeo.
Sustainable Sussex
West Slope is being built to environmental building standard BREEAM Excellent, an assessment that measures the environmental performance of construction and the sustainability of the final buildings - for instance, almost all the rubble from the demolition of 54 outdated buildings has already been reused within the construction site, and green roofs, water recycling and solar panels will make our final buildings more sustainable.
As the construction site has taken shape, student and staff photography, sketches, paintings and more, have also been added to the boarder of the construction site,seizing the opportunity to proudlyshowcase the fantastic range of creative talent of our community here at Sussex.
Student wellbeing prioritised
The Health and Wellbeing Centre will be our first new West Slope building to open in summer 2026, with the first West Slope accommodation rooms available to students for the 2026/27 academic year. Foundations are currently being laid and we will seeourWest Slope buildings taking shape over the next year.
Did you know that West Slope will comprise of 22 new buildings across 12 acres of campus? To keep up-to-date with West Slope and other campus developments, join our Better Campus community on Viva Engage.