Designed by Hawkins Brown, the proposed £32m student centre and a £28m civic square will be the focal point of the University’s £200m masterplan development.

Neil Brook, B&K’s North West Regional Director, said that work will start this month with the student centre and square completed during the summer of 2020.

The new square will form an iconic gateway to Preston, spanning 90,000 sq ft and providing flexible and adaptable spaces for a wide range of community, public, business and student uses.

Improvements to landscaping and the public realm in the Adelphi Quarter of the City will also be carried out as part of the wider programme of works.

Michael Ahern, UCLan’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We’ve seen the completion of two major projects in the past year – our multi-faith centre Oasis and the student Social Spaces, with the Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) nearing completion and preparing to welcome students in September. ”