With Stan Stanier & Jim Wilson, The University of Brighton

In 2016 the University of Brighton established the Modern Spaces Programme – a multi-million pound strategic initiative to refurbish all teaching spaces.

The Checkland Atrium was the first large social space to be tackled by the programme team and gave us an opportunity to determine new design principles and standards, challenge conventional ways of working and deliver a clear statement of intent for future social learning spaces. It also gave us an opportunity to fully deliver to one of the University’s strategic objectives – to “create vibrant, green and sustainable campus environments in partnership with our staff and students.”

What resulted was a fantastic collaboration across numerous departments with departmental silos broken down by a common commitment to the principles underpinning the project.

Stan Stanier has spent most of his career working in technology, specialising in learning technologies and the application of technologies to support teaching, learning & research. Latterly, Stan has taken the lead for the University’s Modern Spaces Programme – a multi-million pound strategic investment to modernise all learning spaces across the university.

Jim Wilson has been a bespoke furniture designer and maker for over thirty years. A concern with the environmental impact of his work led Jim to study for and gain an MA in Sustainable Design in 2015. Since then he has taught this subject at Brighton and also Sussex University. In recent years Jim has collaborated with various companies including Puma and The Body Shop and has contributed to 100% Design and EcoBuild.

Currently Jim is working as a sustainable designer for the University of Brighton helping to transform its shared and public spaces.