The University of East Anglia (UEA) has announced that building works have begun on its new state-of-the-art, fully accessible anatomy training facilities, in Norwich Research Park.
LSI Architects, a UK-based architectural practice, was appointed to work on the design of the new Anatomy Suite, which is due to be finished at the end of 2025 and is anticipated to become operational during 2026.
Peter Durrant, Director at LSI, said: "As a design team, we have enjoyed working very closely with the Anatomy team and wider UEA stakeholders to design a new facility that will be at the forefront of new ways of teaching. We’re very much looking forward to seeing this project come to life over the coming months."
LSI Architects was appointed to work on the design of the new Anatomy Suite
The new centre is being built as a two-storey extension to the Edith Cavell Building (ECB), situated adjacent to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
The new Anatomy Suite will provide:
- 390 sqm of teaching space in seminar rooms
- An immersive anatomy teaching space
- Improved preparation areas for both staff and students
- Storage and academic office facilities
The new centre will also support the recruitment and retention of highly skilled healthcare professionals both regionally and nationally.
The majority of funding for the Anatomy Suite has come through a grant of £4.8m from the Office for Students
With NHS recruitment at the heart of the new Government’s priorities, the Anatomy Suite will be crucial in delivering the next generation of heathcare professionals.
Further, the majority of funding for the Anatomy Suite has come through a grant of £4.8m from the Office for Students, with additional contributions drawn from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences through funds ringfenced exclusively for use on capital development projects, and the wider University.
Charles french-Constant, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UEA Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, said: "Our anatomy teaching facilities have been at the heart of our healthcare student training for two decades and it’s now wonderful to be able to fully modernise this vital part of our buildings to increase the number of students we can train and provide them with state-of-the-art facilities,"
With NHS recruitment at the heart of the new Government’s priorities, the Anatomy Suite will be crucial in delivering the next generation of heath care professionals
"The new facility, which replaces the existing suite on campus, will be one of the first in the country to meet contemporary standards set by the World Health Organisation, following new legislation relating to the exposure of the preservation chemical formaldehyde. This means UEA can remain compliant with legal developments for the health and safety of staff and students, which is not possible within the constraints of the current facility," Constant added.
"The new Anatomy Suite will increase the capacity for teaching and the additional provision of courses at undergraduate, postgraduate, and specialist training levels, and provide flexibility to react to technological changes in teaching methods, sitting alongside the immersive training facilities within the ECB," Constant concluded.
Top image: Anatomy Suite teaching room Image credit: LSI Architects