£20m eco-friendly hotel for University of Nottingham

The hotel is due to be completed for opening by the end of 2012.

Built to the highest environmental standards, the hotel will feature state-of-the-art technology to reduce carbon emissions, as part of the University’s strategy to become an ever more environmentally-friendly institution. It will feature some executive-style rooms, meeting and conferencing rooms, a gym as well as a restaurant and bar.

Architects and interior designers have developed the eco-friendly building featuring accessible rooftop terraces, green roofs and maximum use of natural daylight. Open spaces will provide superb views of The University of Nottingham’s extensively landscaped campus, whilst the latest technology will help to reduce carbon emissions.

Solar photovoltaic panels and ground-sourced heat technology are incorporated, as well as a lower energy assisted-cooling ventilation system.

The hotel will aim to achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating under the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), which recognises low-impact buildings that incorporate the best environmental practice. The University of Nottingham has developed a series of award-winning buildings that have underlined its commitment to sustainable architecture and construction.

Chris Jagger, Chief Estates and Facilities Officer at The University of Nottingham, said: “The hotel will enhance the existing range of conference facilities provided by the University. It will provide a source of excellent quality accommodation all year round, not only supporting the existing meeting spaces provided by the award-winning East Midlands Conference Centre, but also for visitors to the University.”

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Artists’ impressions of the building are available from Kirstie Danzey or Tim Utton (see below).

The East Midlands Conference Centre was opened in 1985, and over the last 25 years has undergone significant development and expansion to secure its place as one of the regions’ leading dedicated conference centres. It is the flag ship venue of Nottingham Conferences, the brand representing the entire range of conference facilities based at The University of Nottingham, the others being University Park, Jubilee Campus and Sutton Bonington. See www.nottinghamconferences.co.uk for more information.

Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham, described by The Sunday Times University Guide 2011 as ‘the embodiment of the modern international university’, has award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. It is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 75 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and the QS World University Rankings. It was named ‘Europe’s greenest university’ in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, a league table of the world’s most environmentally-friendly higher education institutions, which ranked Nottingham second in the world overall.

The University is committed to providing a truly international education for its 40,000 students, producing world-leading research and benefiting the communities around its campuses in the UK and Asia.

More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, with almost 60 per cent of all research defined as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Research Fortnight analysis of RAE 2008 ranked the University 7th in the UK by research power.

The University’s vision is to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health.

More news from the University at: www.nottingham.ac.uk/news