£500m University of Bristol Temple Quarter Campus Nears Opening

According to the official website of the University of Bristol, the main construction phase of the flagship building at the University of Bristol’s new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus (TQEC) has now been completed ahead of its opening in September.

It is reported that the University of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, built next to Bristol Temple Meads railway station, will accommodate 4,600 students, 650 staff members, and a hub for start-ups. The total investment in TQEC has reached £500 million.

TQEC is expected to serve as a catalyst for the wider Bristol Temple Quarter regeneration programme, one of the UK’s largest urban regeneration projects, which is set to deliver thousands of new homes, jobs, and opportunities in the coming years.

Over the next four months, the landmark 38,000 square metre (sqm) building next to Temple Meads Station will move into its final phase as principal contractor Sir Robert McAlpine supports the University in making finishing touches and moving furniture, equipment and people into the building.

The University bought the site from Bristol City Council in 2017 before demolishing the derelict Royal Mail Sorting Office in 2019, which had stood empty for over 20 years.

When it opens, the campus will be a new front door to the University and home for its world-class teaching and research across business, innovation, digital engineering, artificial intelligence, quantum and more.  

It will open alongside a brand-new eastern entrance to the region’s largest transport hub, Bristol Temple Meads, directly connecting to the campus through a new public space called University Square. A new harbour walkway, funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, connecting University Square to Temple Quay will provide new walking and cycling routes.  

Professor Judith Squires, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and lead for the Temple Quarter programme, at the University of Bristol, said: “Today marks a major milestone in our drive to create a vibrant new connected campus in the heart of the city. Thanks to the fantastic work of Sir Robert McAlpine and our University colleagues we remain on budget and on schedule for our September opening. It's inspiring to see our new building come to life and I'm hugely grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point. I look forward to welcoming students, innovation and community partners and staff to join us in our new campus in September.”

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “Hundreds of local people have been working to deliver the University of Bristol’s new £500 million Enterprise Campus next door to the West Country’s biggest train station. Thanks to their hard work, today’s completion is a big step towards unlocking the wider potential of Bristol Temple Quarter and thousands more new jobs and new homes for our region.”