St Andrews regularly tops the higher education league tables: this reflects not just the excellence in teaching and research, but also our impressive performance in the national student satisfaction surveys. To maintain this competitiveness and advance its ambitious goals for enhancing the student experience, the University plans to make a transformative investment in the Students’ Association building.

A £12 million redevelopment will provide a full renovation, increased space, an aesthetic overhaul, and facilities capable of meeting the needs of a 21st-century student body.

The plans envisage the creation of new and improved student venues within the building’s current footprint, including provision for theatre and acoustic music, modern central headquarters for student societies and campaigners and a state-of-the-art multimedia suite to be shared by the STAR radio station, Rogue film productions and the student television broadcasting group, Bubble TV. A key element of the Association’s strategy is the promotion of dynamic and imaginative collaboration between this cohort of student media societies.

The injection of capital will also give a greater edge to the Students’ Association’s commercial and entertainment operations and thus enable it to continue to fund its mission as a charity dedicated to student services, activities and representation. The Students’ Association provides financial support (and creative direction) to over one hundred and forty student societies and therefore plays a leading role in nurturing and promoting St Andrews student talent.

A highlight of the year, alongside Freshers’ Week, is now On the Rocks, the largest student arts festival in Scotland. It represents an impressive coalition of all of our musicians and artists, and includes everything from Shakespeare to improvisational comedy and orchestral concerts.

The Association aspires to have a building to match this ambition, and to ensure that it can continue to provide the opportunities that make the St Andrews student experience truly unique.

Update

The Student Association has been working closely with BDG architecture + design to develop designs for the building’s interior and exterior spaces; once the concepts have been put to paper they’re shared with the student community to encourage feedback and input.  The most recent concepts – for the café, study spaces and Market Street frontage – are below.  To follow the project’s progress or share your thoughts, join the Your Union Redevelopment Facebook group.