conferencing & events
The Spark shines brightly as a new meeting venue
This month will see thousands of Solent University students step through the doors of the Spark for the very first time
The university’s new £33 million teaching and learning building is aimed at encouraging creative, interactive and flexible ways of learning, and offers a brand new meetings and events venue for the city, emphasising links with the local business community.
Especially striking is the dramatic ‘pod’, situated at the heart of the central atrium, which boasts a lecture theatre and an open- topped viewing platform.
“We believe it is the most innovative building in the country. It is absolutely fantastic and the pod really captures the imagination,” said deputy vice-chancellor (external engagement) Professor Mike Wilkinson. “We wanted to create somewhere that would be a real talking point, would symbolise our creativity and enhance our reputation nationwide and we feel we have really achieved that.
“The Spark has two primary purposes – one as a new centre for teaching and learning and secondly, as a conferencing and events centre for both businesses and local community groups.
“We are very focused on the possibilities the building offers and want to make sure the investment will be used to maximum
advantage to promote and support both Southampton and the wider Solent region.”
A series of open days and tours has already resulted in impressive feedback and booking enquiries, and the Spark is also being actively promoted through the university’s business development team.
Marc Goodman, Solent’s business development manager, says its city centre location and adaptable approach, including four conference suites that open into larger spaces, means the Spark is ideally suited to a wide range of events and exhibitions, shows and meetings.
“Because the building has been designed to be flexible, we can cater for meetings for as few as five people and up to 320 in the atrium – making us the biggest event space in the city centre,” he said.
“Everything has been designed to a very high – quality specification; we have a specialist conference team on hand to help with organising events; we can provide equipment such as lighting and AV or production facilities and, through our caterers Sodexo; we offer prestige-level catering, from buffet lunches to fine dining.
“We have excellent transport links and at evenings and weekends, can offer on-site parking.”
In addition, says Goodman, venue hire fees go directly back into university funds for the benefit of students – something he believes will prove attractive to local businesses.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – SEPTEMBER 2016
Designed to create a north-south gateway across the campus, the Spark is built across five storeys and has 40 teaching spaces – 35 classrooms and five lecture rooms – accommodating around 1,500 learners at any one time. It has already played host to the university’s annual degree shows and graduation activities, as well as an open day for potential new students.
The building is packed full of the latest audio- visual and teaching technology, including a giant video wall at one end of the atrium and a hi-tech sound system, enabling activities to be live streamed to a wider audience.
It also has a high percentage of agile furniture, designed to promote creativity, and unparalleled facilities for wheelchair users.
Wilkinson is equally keen to promote the venue to business audiences and, as a member of the Southampton Chamber of Commerce, is hosting a meeting at the Spark this month in order to show off its range of facilities.
“This new addition to our city-centre campus will play a major role in helping the university continue to deliver the best learning and conference experience for staff, students and the wider community,” he concluded.
The Spark forms part of a £100m campus development plan, due for completion in 2020.
023 8201 5757
solent.ac.uk/conference-centre conference.centre@solent.ac.uk
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