‘Living Wall’ is latest development at Teesside’s Campus Heart

A ‘living wall’ designed by an award-winning company is the latest addition to Teesside University’s £30 million Campus Heart development.

The vertical garden will be installed on the rear of the Student Centre, adjacent to the Dickens Inn, and will provide an attractive focus to the redeveloped centre of the campus.

The wall will also frame a giant LED screen which will be used to provide information and showcase events at the University.

The wall is being designed by Biotecture, a Sussex-based company which has picked up several plaudits for its Living Walls. The plants are currently growing on vertical racks at the company’s nursery in Sussex.

Most recently, a garden which featured a Biotecture Living Wall won a Gold Medal at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Flower Show.

The living wall and screen are the latest of several new projects on the campus, which has seen nearly a quarter of a billion pounds invested in it in recent years. Building work is now almost completed on The Curve, an iconic £20m teaching and learning building.

The flagship four-storey building, clad in distinctive gold coloured panelling, includes social learning spaces, multi-purpose areas for reception, events and exhibitions, general purpose teaching rooms and a large auditorium lecture theatre.

Work is also continuing on the £6 million refurbishment of the Orion building which will provide students with new facilities and the latest state-of-the-art equipment including a flight simulation laboratory, a full size aircraft to be used for physical and load testing and a power system simulator laboratory.

All the work is expected to be finished by the end of summer in time for the start of the new academic year.

Malcolm Page, Chief Operating Officer at Teesside University, said: 'The living wall and screen will provide a fantastic addition to the Campus Heart developments.

'Alongside our other developments they will really enhance the experience for our current and new intake of Teesside students.'

Other work being carried out at the University includes a £2.75m extension of the Olympia Health and Fitness Centre which will open in January 2016. This will provide a state-of-the-art fitness and free weights area, sprint track, multi-purpose studios, sauna and steam room and specialist treatment centre.

The Students’ Union has also undergone a £1.1 million refurbishment to provide a vibrant, multi-purpose, stimulating and supportive environment to study, relax and socialise in.

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