The Catalyst Building. A new 8,800 sqm, four-story building, bringing together apprenticeship and skills delivery to meet employer demand in a flexible, high-quality, digitally enabled space.

The Catalyst Building was designed to reach and welcome current and future students, staff, and employers. The project, valued at £850,000, offers world-class services and settings, supporting students through their education and employment.

Innovative furniture solutions were used to achieve the university’s goals, such as AV-integrated meeting booths and reconfigurable furniture to accommodate flexibility and collaboration.

The project spanned a number of areas, including the café, collaboration space, meeting rooms, learning market, teaching space, an IT Suite, and the Foyer.

The client’s budget was considerable but was limited by the size of the building which required a large amount of furniture. As not to compromise on the design, Showcase PSR Portsdown sourced a mix of furniture from local manufacturers as opposed to using branded products in some areas. We achieved this whilst maintaining quality and without exceeding the budget.

The process was managed using a schedule and expertise of the market’s furniture availabilities and pricing. The result was a stunning environment for students and staff to innovate and prosper.