Campus developments

We’re investing in our campuses to ensure that our staff and students can work in an environment that inspires them to excel. One of the projects at the heart of this programme is the redevelopment of our iconic Templeman Library.

Templeman Library extension

Originally built in 1968, the Templeman Library is at the centre of our Canterbury campus and an essential feature of student life at Kent. The redevelopment project has created a leading 21st century university library that offers a comprehensive range of facilities, services and resources to our community.

The work includes an extension that has created 512 new study spaces, a new exhibition space, a 250 seat lecture theatre, 8 seminar rooms and a Special Collections archive. Additional refurbishments include new windows to brighten up the space, the extension of the café area and provision of additional postgraduate study areas.

Turing College

During our 50th year, we aimed to develop our campuses to provide a place to inspire our students and staff. In 2015, we opened a brand new college at our Canterbury campus to provide more than 800 new rooms to accommodate undergraduate and postgraduate students and keep up with increased demand for on-campus living. Other features of the new college include study areas, office space, catering, and a hub that provides a social space for residents.

Our new college has been named after Alan Turing (1912-1954). He is best known for helping the Bletchley Park team to decipher the code created by German Enigma machines, turning the tide in favour of the Allies during the Second World War. During the 1940s, he became one of the founding fathers of computer science and artificial intelligence. Scientist George McVittie, an Honorary Professor at Kent from 1972 to 1988, worked with Alan Turing at Bletchley Park.