What will the new building earmarked for Kingston University look like?

The architects behind the eye-catching University of Limerick medical school, a school in an olive grove in Rome and the University of Toulouse business school are set to unveil its design to replace the ageing Town House in Penrhyn Road.

Grafton Architects were appointed after a competition aimed at drawing in a big-name architect to create a landmark building.

Vice-chancellor Julius Weinberg announced two years ago it was pressing on with a new building after waiting in vain for years for Surrey County Council to vacate its headquarters opposite the university.

The Town House building will be replaced by a modern, sustainable structure that will act as a main reception area for all of the institution’s campuses, with extra learning and project space.

The front of the campus will also be landscaped, to make the site more attractive.

Surrey Comet:

Grafton Architects were behind the University of Limerick medical school

The current Town House was built in the mid-1980s as a temporary five-year measure, but has stayed in place for almost 30 years.

Professor Weinberg said the new building would “herald a fantastic future for both sthe university and the borough”.

He said: “We are responding to student and staff feedback about the kind of facilities needed to provide an exceptional 21st century learning environment.

“We are proud of the university’s reputation for excellent teaching and its creative approach to learning, but we need to improve our estate to continually provide the best possible education for our students now and in the future.

“We also hope to bring the local community through our doors and we want to make our University a welcoming place for local people.”

Early drawings will go on public display inside the Town House between 10am and 7.30pm on Wednesday, January 29 and Thursday, January 30.

Subject to planning permission, the university hopes to complete the new building by 2017.