Multi-Faith Centre project

The University is planning make a significant investment to create a new, flexible and inclusive Multi-Faith Centre in the heart of Streatham Campus.

The proposal is to build a dedicated Multi-Faith Centre to replace the existing Muslim prayer rooms and multi-faith spaces in the Old Library and to create a new space for quiet reflection and multi-faith activities, which promote respect, community and inclusion.

Planned for location on the grassed area opposite the Forum’s South Piazza, next to Poole Gate Road, the building will include a 50 person Muslim prayer space and a multi-faith space for quiet reflection, services and events. It will also house communal meeting space, a kitchen, a dedicated office for the Multifaith Chaplaincy Team and an external terrace area.

The proposed location for the Multi-Faith Centre has been chosen as it will complement the facilities in the Forum, encourage maximum use of the space, make it central to the student community and promote respect and inclusion.

The University is committed to supporting diversity, inclusion, culture, heritage and creative life in Exeter and the region, and the plans for the Multi-Faith Centre align with University’s Strategy 2030, under the values of Respect, Community and Inclusion. 

The Students’ Guild, local faith leaders and the Multifaith Chaplaincy team continue to be involved in the plans for the new building.

Sustainability and reducing carbon emissions are fundamental to the design of the new Multi-Faith Centre. The University is committed to embedding its low carbon targets on this building, including reducing regulated carbon emissions, through a combination of sustainability initiatives in the design, construction and maintenance phases of the new building. The building is also to achieve Passivhaus Classic Certification which drives rigorous low-energy design standards, significantly improving building comfort, air quality and energy use, with greater carbon reduction. It is intended to construct the building from low carbon Porotherm clay blocks, incorporate high levels of insulation including triple glazed windows and have high air tightness performance. The building will also benefit from air source heat pumps and PV solar panels on the roof.