Students, staff and business partners at Lancaster University Management School are set to benefit from major building upgrades which were unveiled this spring.

The 50-year-old original LUMS building has been transformed to provide facilities fit for the future of education, research and engagement.

The East Estate project has brought the building up to the same standard as the recently developed West Pavilion, and created a seamless transition between the two spaces.

The refurbishment includes new meeting rooms and teaching spaces, along with improved breakout and informal study areas which maximise accessibility. A new link corridor now connects the Spine to the main entrance in the West Pavilion.

There is an upgraded Bloomberg Suite, which provides students access to the same professional financial information systems used by banks, investment firms, and global financial institutions worldwide; careers zones; an expanded PC lab; a new cafe; and staff lounge area.

Andrew Barker, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience and Colleges, said: “This major project has transformed the East Estate into a vibrant, contemporary space for our students to spend time in. The new Fuel cafe is already proving popular, and we are delighted to be able to provide these upgrades for our students, staff and visitors. It is wonderful to see the new facilities already being widely used and enjoyed.”

Professor Claire Leitch, Dean of Lancaster University Management School, said: “The new spaces are fantastic, and it is particularly exciting to see the upgraded Bloomberg Suite - allowing students to gain hands-on experience and helping to bridge the gap between academic study and industry practice.

“As one of the oldest business schools in the UK, the refurbishment is sympathetic to our heritage, while also bringing the original parts of the building into line with the modern, first-class facilities provided by the West Pavilion.”

The redevelopment has been led by Preston-based Conlon Construction.

The refurbishment has created a carbon saving of more than 80 per cent compared to an equivalent new build. This, combined with revised design principles that allow more effective uses of space, along with the release of the Charles Carter building for other uses, has led to an estimated saving of more than 4,700 tonnes of carbon expenditure, equivalent to the carbon produced by more than 400 homes in a year.