Al Qasimi project
Al Qasimi
The University of Exeter has received a philanthropic pledge from His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, to co-fund the construction of a new development on Exeter’s Streatham Campus. The proposed building will extend from the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (IAIS) which His Highness has funded previously. New spaces will enhance Exeter’s international reputation in Area Studies, and in particular its work in culture, languages and heritage. The Academic Vision of this focuses on building on our existing strengths in contributing to the United Nations ‘Sustainable Development Goals in the Global South’, which embodies the University’s core values of Greener, Healthier, Fairer.We have been ranked Top 10 in the world for our progress towards this goal in the 2024 THE impact rankings Sustainable Development Goals | Sustainable Development Goals | University of Exeter.
The Al Qasimi Building will be a new focal point for Exeter’s student community. It will provide an inclusive space for all students to gather, interact and learn in a setting that celebrates diversity, interconnectivity, and sustainability.
The new spaces will enhance Exeter’s international reputation in Area Studies and in particular its work in culture, languages and heritage. Uniquely, the facilities will incorporate academics and students from across Exeter’s three faculties, with a particular research focus on the Middle East region and the Global South.
As part of the University’s Strategy 2030, the University has identified the opportunity to further develop the academic teaching and reassure facilities already being offered within the IAIS building. ‘We will work with partners, students, and alumni across our campuses, our region, and the world in our pursuit of new knowledge, opportunities, and impact’.
The adjacent site to the current IAIS building, within the Jubilee Gardens, has been identified as the most suitable area for the new building. Inside the building, we are proposing to have a combination of formal and informal teaching spaces including large teaching lecture theatres and open-plan teaching areas. It is expected to also have research space and collaborative zones, as well as a café with an outside terrace.
The proposed plans for the new building include the restoration of the listed walled gardens between the IAIS and the historic Reed Hall and the recreation of a ‘lost’ paradise garden. We will also look to enhance pedestrian routes through the area from the West side of campus to central areas.
The building will provide panoramic views West across the campus to the Whitcombe Way Valley Park and Exwick Woods beyond and will be designed to a low carbon construction standard and achieve Passivhaus certification requirements.
We are currently in the design phase of the project, with construction expected to start in the summer of 2025 and complete by summer 2027, subject to change.
Upcoming works
We are currently in the design and planning stage of the project. We will be submitting a planning application for the building to Exeter City Council later this year. Following planning approval, construction is expected to start in the summer of 2025, subject to change, with the building anticipated to open in 2027.
Any mitigation works that will be required, such as hoardings and new signage, will be put in place during early summer 2025 before any construction work starts.
Updates regarding building works and potential disruption will be shared on this web page.
Contact us
Roger Ball is the Project Manager for the project.
If you have any queries or questions about the project please email campusdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk and we will get back to you.