Major new learning and teaching hub opens at King’s Buildings

From today, students and staff will be able to use the study spaces and the Students’ Association Shop and Wrap Bar, as the first part of a phased opening – with the Nucleus Café opening later in Semester 1 and teaching facilities coming online from January 2023. 

The Nucleus will become the new heart of the College of Science and Engineering, bringing together all the College’s disciplines for the first time in a bespoke building that encourages students and staff to address the challenges of the future. It will be a meeting point for all members of the University, and a space to engage with the local community through events, exhibitions, and facilities. 

I’m thrilled about the Nucleus. This building is going to create a focal point in the heart of King’s Buildings, bringing together spaces for teaching, studying, socialising and services. I’ve been inside a couple of times, and it’s fantastic. It’s bright and airy, with superb facilities and lovely spaces, and with beautiful views. It’s great to see this development on our campus, and I’m excited by the new possibilities it gives us all to meet and interact together, no matter which part of the University we are in. Come along early and often!

Professor Iain Gordon

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Learning and Teaching

Across four floors, seven centrally bookable spaces will provide approximately 1,200 new teaching spaces, and in addition, a new 100-person specialist teaching laboratory for the School of Chemistry.  The lecture theatres and teaching spaces have been designed with a variety of sizes and furniture solutions to provide maximum flexibility and are fully equipped with AV presentation facilities.  Native Scottish trees names have been chosen to name the teaching spaces, in alphabetical order from the basement to the upper floors they are:

• Alder Lecture Theatre - a 300-person lecture theatre on basement level with bleacher seating that can be positioned flat against the wall or tiered.
• Elm Lecture Theatre - a 112-person collaborative lecture theatre.
•  Hawthorn - a 132-person studio classroom with six-person group teaching desks.
• Larch Lecture Theatre - a 300-person turn-and-learn lecture theatre. Alternate rows of seats can be turned 180° to allow discussion or small working groups.
• Oak Lecture Theatre - a 400-person fixed seating lecture theatre primarily for high-volume classes. 
• Rowan – a 60-person studio classroom
• Yew Lecture Theatre – a 150-person bleacher-style lecture theatre with flat or tiered seating which can be moved to the back of the room.
• a 100-person specialist teaching laboratory for the School of Chemistry.
• More than 400 student study spaces in a mix of formal and informal environments. 

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Catering and other resources

A café will be located at the entrance level alongside a Students' Association Shop and Wrap Bar. The building also provides three heat-and-eat stations where students can make hot drinks and heat up their own food with microwave ovens.   The University’s Careers Service has relocated from Murchison House to the first floor of the Nucleus, from where you will be able to directly access the Kenneth and Noreen Murray Library. From the ground floor you’ll be able to access King’s Buildings House, providing barrier free access for wheelchair users. 

The opening hours for the Nucleus will mirror the Noreen and Kenneth Murray Library opening hours.  

The Nucleus is a fantastically exciting addition to the Kings Buildings campus. My colleagues have quickly run out of superlatives in trying to describe the new 1st year Chemistry teaching labs. This is a world class facility – beautifully designed and presented to support an unparalleled learning experience. The new lecture theatres are also truly exceptional and will be a joy to teach in. I cannot wait to get started!

Professor Carole Morrison

The Nucleus is a brilliant and welcome addition to King’s Buildings that will offer many great facilities under one roof. The much-loved Students’ Association Shop & Wrap Bar will be on the ground floor, along with several heat and eat stations and a University café to give students a variety of food options. Additionally, the multi-purpose space is ideal for societies and student groups, as well as classes, and I’m sure this will help build the sense of community across the College.

Natalia Ellingham

Official opening and further information

We plan to have an official opening in the spring of 2023. We’ll update our Nucleus information page with more on that soon, as well as guidance on room booking and other practical information for building users.

Nucleus information page

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