One of Dorset’s most distinctive new buildings has been officially declared open.

Bournemouth University’s Poole Gateway Building sits on the gateway to BU’s Talbot Campus.

It houses a range of high quality technical teaching facilities for students on industry-focused undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as facilities to enhance the university’s research.

Within the Poole Gateway Building there are two multi-camera TV studios, a film studio and sound stage, music studios, a cinema to view student-made films, edit suites, sound suites, music studios, green screen and motion capture studios for animation.

The official opening of the building was performed by Bournemouth University’s Chancellor, Dr Kate Adie CBE, DL.

The ceremony was attended by Bournemouth University (BU) board members and senior leaders, as well as representatives from the Students’ Union, and the building’s key contractors, including Wilmott Dixon.

BU’s chancellery, council leaders, local Mayors, school leaders and Talbot Village Trust trustees were also among the guests at the opening, as well as a range of other companies that helped in the building’s construction.

Professor John Vinney, Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University, said: “These new facilities provide a fantastic environment for our students and staff to work together across science and technology, media and communication.

“We continue to invest in our staff and in our facilities as part of our BU2025 strategy to be recognised world-wide for our vibrant learning community.”

The building accommodates new animation, games and music, PC and Apple Mac laboratories, equipped with industry-standard software and the latest post-production editing eco-system, allowing for online collaboration between students working on group projects.

Opening the building, former BBC journalist Kate Adie said, “When good buildings are built, the students get a sense of the place, and a sense of grandeur; that is something that makes people in this town and in this county proud.

“[For] the people who will come to work and to teach, and especially those who come to learn here, what a wonderful, wonderful place this is to be – I think we are very lucky.”

The Poole Gateway Building has achieved a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) ‘Excellent’ rating for its sustainability.

It is designed to be as environmentally-friendly as possible, including a number of carbon-reducing measures in place.

Students on a range of courses, in subject areas such as Film, TV, Media, Music Production and Media Production, will all have access to the new facilities, alongside students from BU’s National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA).