Introducing Spectra: the new name for our Physics, Engineering and Computer Science building

Spectra will take pride of place as the newest and largest development on the College Lane Campus, transforming our STEM offer for students, staff, researchers and businesses.

As well as nodding to the scientific disciplines which it will house, and the common acronym of the School (SPECS), the building’s new name signifies the broad scope of expertise and the spectrum of skills and ideas that will flourish in the new building.

Set over five floors, Spectra will be a hub for teaching, research, and innovation, and give students and staff valuable space to collaborate and socialise, enhancing the sense of community within the School. State-of-the-art equipment and labs will help to inspire and develop the next generation of engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians and physicists, as well as providing a focal point for the STEM innovation, research and enterprise for which Herts is known.

The construction phase is nearing completion, and fit-out is expected to start in March 2024 ahead of an official opening in September 2024. As the final months of the project begin, the University is also launching a new donor wall – giving anyone in the Herts community the opportunity to be part of the new building and directly contribute to its state-of-the-art facilities.

Donations of £150 or more will enable individuals or groups to have their name, or nominate to have someone else's name, on permanent display on a special wall on the ground floor of the building. Funds raised will go towards new equipment, which will ensure that Spectra delivers world-class opportunities for future generations of students.

Professor Quintin McKellar, Vice-Chancellor, said: “It’s vital that not just our fantastic teaching, but also our campuses and facilities, offer our students the best learning experience. In Spectra, we are providing a remarkable space in which our students and staff will thrive, and this exciting new development will play a key role in the future of Herts.”