STUDENTS and staff were welcomed into the new Ulster University (UU) campus in Belfast yesterday as it opened its doors for the first time following a multi-million pound construction project.
As the new academic year kicked off - a day later due to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth on Monday - hundreds of students descended on the site.
A long line of people snaked from the front doors of the building on York Street around into Donegall Street from early yesterday with around 6,000 staff and students expected to use the campus every day.
It also marked the start of 'Welcome Week' and 'Freshers’ Week' with students given the opportunity to tour the campus and meet with their course teams.
Library inductions, social events, live music on campus, Freshers' Fayres and free food are on offer to all students this week, from those returning to their studies as well as those joining for the first time.
Asked about the massive queues that formed yesterday, a UU spokeswoman said: "Ulster University’s programme of 'Welcome Week' activities across all campuses began on Tuesday 20 September, following the Bank Holiday.
"The enhanced Belfast campus is an exciting new experience for most returning students as well as those joining UU for the first time.
"We were delighted to welcome so many students onto campus this morning.
"The numbers are usual for the first day of a packed week of welcome and induction activities during which students will access all they need to make the most of this incredible campus.
"The queue cleared quickly, and a team of campus navigators is on hand to help students and staff settle into campus life."
Despite being more than £100 million over budget and after a four-year delay, the opening marks the end of a mammoth construction project which first began in 2013 when a consultation was launched about the future of the university's Jordanstown site.
An estimated 15,000 students and staff will use the new campus, which amounts to around a million square feet of building.
Last September saw the first phase of the redevelopment open when the university’s founding art school became the first to occupy the enhanced campus.
But yesterday, the entire site - featuring 22,000m2 of glass, 650,000 bricks and 2,900 doors and engineered to last for 300 years - was officially unveiled.
Taking its architectural design inspiration from the shape of the surrounding Belfast hills, staff and students will be able to make use of an impressive 350 seat lecture theatre, 300 learning spaces, two-storey library and nine catering outlets, including a vegan restaurant and rooftop cafe, as well as a students union and gym.
Speaking ahead of the academic year starting, UU vice-chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew said the official opening to staff and students meant it would "now bring to life this truly remarkable campus in the city centre".
"Our new campus will foster creative talent, scientific expertise and enquiry, engineering innovation and entrepreneurial drive all under one roof, and marks a milestone for those who study with us, work with us and partner with us," he said.
"It drives forward a reimagining of the teaching and learning experience that is deployed across all our campuses, including recent enhancements first introduced at Magee and Coleraine, accelerating innovation in how we do things and ensuring implementation of best practice."
