UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 27 MARCH 2017
Earlier this year, our School of English Creative Writing pathway students were approached by construction giants Willmott Dixon, who were seeking inspirational creative writing to mark the construction of our new £31m extension to the Curzon Building, “Curzon B.”
The brief was to write an original, imaginative piece about the extension to the building our English students call home, to commemorate its finishing touches. Students Bonnie Cartwright and Rosie Paton wrote the winning submissions which were then performed at the traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony of the building in February. Bonnie and Rosie explored themes of transformation, landscape and time in their work.
describes Rosie.
The 100,000 square foot extension to the Curzon Building will add more learning space and additional facilities to add to the experience of our English students. In development since May 2016, it will be home to 3,000 staff and students when it opens for use later this year. It will complement the original Curzon building which is a new, modern facility itself, having been built in 2015 and continuing the University’s transformation of this part of the city.
Professor Graham Upton, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University, said: “Curzon B will be the latest in a line of new buildings to open on our City Centre Campus, all of which have allowed us to keep providing students with even better facilities for the duration of their studies.”
Peter Owen, Managing Director at Willmott Dixon said:
“Ongoing, active engagement with the University is a key driver for Willmott Dixon in ensuring that students are able to apply their learning to real live examples."
“As a result of our relationship with Birmingham City University we have facilitated over 3000 students visiting the site; provided 10 paid placements, whilst three past students are now employed full time by Willmott Dixon in the Birmingham region – it has been an all-round success.”