The contractor for the Edward Roberts Court Remodelling Project completed the last of the paving works on Friday 7^th February, allowing them to retract their site perimeter, fully opening the rejuvenated space.

The ramp and both sets of steps are now completely accessible between the upper and lower levels of the courtyard.

Nick Szpunar, Project Manager for the project said: “We are extremely happy with the end result and despite uncovering some unforeseen and challenging issues early on in the project; the contractor has worked hard to deliver a great end result.”

Construction started in June last year to transform the space from a food court in to a social destination. The redevelopment saw the original ramp, built in 1996, demolished and replaced with a new ramp and steps that meet current accessibility regulations, whilst improving the overall navigability of the court.

A phased approach to construction ensured the court remained open for most of the project, reducing the need for shops to close and maintaining a level of ‘business as usual’.

Jo Hardman, Head of Commercial Services at Lancaster University said: “This is a fantastic refurbishment that will provide students and staff with a great place to eat, drink and socialise. We are really excited to see how the community will use the new space for events and activities.”

Amelia Hunt, Faculty Manager –Faculty of Health and Medicine said: “The project was always going to be a challenging one due to the location of the court and its surroundings, but it was great to see how willing the project team were to work with stakeholders to ensure good communication and the level of concern they demonstrated in trying to manage the disruption and reduce the impact on staff and students. The court looks great and will clearly benefit staff and students.”

An official opening ceremony will be held in the court between 12:30 and 1:30pm on the 25^th February to mark the formal completion of the project. Music and live performances have been scheduled to demonstrate the potential of the space. A plaque reveal and speech will officially mark the opening.

The remaining works will see the installation of 5 parasols, 6 tables and 12 benches, as well as the completion of other minor snags before the University formally sign-off on the project.

The court was originally built in 1996 following the death of Edward Verne Roberts, an American disability rights activist of whom the court was named after.