Penryn 2.0 project
Our goal is for our Penryn Campus to have a global reputation of expertise in sustainability, where we deliver practical solutions to create a just and sustainable future and solve world-wide environmental issues.
In July 2023, our University Council approved for a project team to explore and design a three storey facility for the Penryn Campus, named Penryn 2.0. Following a review of the proposed Penryn 2.0 building and the challenges associated with the project, we adjusted the project to look at alternative options to create enhanced research and education spaces across the Penryn Campus that will benefit the whole community.
At the end of February 2025, a revised Outline Business Case for Penryn 2.0 was approved by Council with the aim of delivering a more sustainable and value for money solution, following engagement with University Faculties about prioritisation and need.
The project aims to enhance our infrastructure in Penryn to build on strengths in research excellence and the potential for student growth in Cornwall.
The project includes refurbishment of a number of lab spaces across campus, expanding an IT suite, teaching lab and seminar rooms, creating dedicated social/study and research space for postgraduates, and creating flexible office spaces for academic and professional services colleagues.
The Penryn 2.0 project will embrace learnings from recent refurbishment capital projects (including Accelerating Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (ADA) developments in Innovation Centre 2, Streatham Campus).
Next steps will further develop the design proposal. We will share more details as the plans develop.
Upcoming works
This summer 2025, we have refurbished a number of spaces at the Penryn Campus to respond to feedback from students and colleagues, make better use of space and increase flexibility.
We have created a new 30 person, modern and flexible IT suite (room 3.036) in the Daphne du Maurier building (DDM), next to the existing large IT suite (room 3.037), to allow larger groups of students to receive technical IT teaching. It includes innovative 2-in-1 desks with built-in PCs that can be raised or shut into the body of the desk, allowing the space to also be used for group activity, non-IT teaching and bring your own device (BYOD), a key element that our students requested.
The Postgraduate Suite Seminar Room and Stella Turk Seminar Room have also been improved with new layouts and furniture to maximise the spaces, enhancing flexibility and use. All of the above rooms include a number of height adjustable desks to improve accessibility. The adjustable desks are located at the ends of the rows in the IT Suite, and at the back of the seminar rooms for easy access.
Further work is starting in late September 2025 in the SERSF Ground Floor Lab where we are installing new lab benching and removing underused equipment to create a more flexible lab space that can be utilised for a variety of activities. We expect the lab to be operational in late autumn 2025.
We thank you for your patience whilst we create modern, flexible spaces at the Penryn Campus.
The Penryn 2.0 project team continue to progress designs and plans for future enhancements to spaces at Penryn. Updates regarding building works and potential disruption will be shared on this web page.
Contact us
If you have any queries about the project, please contact: campusdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk