Ravensbourne has completed its six year, £70m relocation to the Greenwich Peninsula. Reporter NINA MASSEY went along to find out what the new facilities have to offer.
WITHIN touching distance of the O2, Ravensbourne college is a purpose built campus serving 1,400 students.
The new £70 million building’s rotating doors have finally swivelled open this October to students in Greenwich Peninsula after six years of planning.
The digital media and design higher education college has relocated from Chislehurst to Penrose Way, right next to the O2 so that it is closer to London and more accessible for students and teachers alike.
It offers foundation courses, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in subjects spanning fashion, television and broadcasting, design, architecture, animation and music production.
College chief executive Professor Robin Baker said: “We are trying to create independent learners and we tell students it is the first day of their career when they start here.
"We like to treat them as professionals and are unashamedly vocational.”
Although the college is open 16 hours a day, only six of those are spent teaching.
Some of the state-of-the-art facilities available to students include a five camera HDTV studio capable of recording multiple feeds, and two prototyping spaces housing the latest technologies for 2D and 3D printing.
The building itself is a huge scaly looking construction of three different coloured tiles in different patterns. The pattern has been designed by mathematical physicist, Sir Roger Penrose.
The aluminium tiles are punctuated with circular glass panes that make up rows of windows on each floor, some big enough to walk into.
Spread out across 21,500 square metres, the college has a light and airy feel.
There are few conventional classrooms, the preference being given to open learning space, encouraging students to interact with each other.
Prof Baker added: “We want them to have a competitive edge and the building supports informal learning.
"There are a small number of classes but a lot of open spaces so students do collective learning.
"The new location means that they can use London as their resource so we have various workshops they can use across the capital for making things.”
The countless windows provide various views across London and right next to the O2, cushioned into the Thames’ second largest meander, the river feels like a moat surrounding the college.
High up on the roof of the college, the arena’s giant yellow support poles tower overhead and the canvas dome resembles a bouncy castle.
Harri Kamalanathan is student union corporate and team liaison officer.
He said: “So far all of the feedback we have had has been really positive.
"Everything is brand new and students old and new seem to be impressed.
"Being here makes us feel more connected with everything, whereas Chislehurst was out in the middle of nowhere.”
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