Mar 30 2011 3:00PM
UCS officially opened the James Hehir Building| on the Ipswich Waterfront this morning, marking the occasion with a ribbon cutting ceremony and the unveiling of a time capsule and commemorative stone.
Around 90 special guests were invited to celebrate the momentous occasion and given a guided tour of the £22m building which features specialist teaching facilities including clinical skills laboratories, physiology and sports science laboratories, and an iLab, as well as general teaching and study space.
Professor Mike Saks, UCS Provost and Chief Executive, and Russell Williams, Chief Executive at Ipswich Borough Council, gave welcoming speeches and introduced Sally Hehir, wife of the late James Hehir. Sally officially opened the building by cutting the ribbon and unveiling a plaque dedicated to James Hehir which celebrates his commitment to both the Ipswich Waterfront and education in Suffolk.
A time capsule containing a variety of memorabilia from UCS, UCS Union|, Ipswich Borough Council|, Suffolk County Council| and Wilmott Dixon| (building construction team), was also submerged beneath the ground at the site of the building to mark the occasion.
The capsule was lowered into the ground as Professor Mike Saks added the final item- a letter addressed to the community of the future. The letter read: “When you open this time capsule 25 years on, I fully expect that UCS will be providing undergraduate and postgraduate university education amongst the highest quality nationally and internationally based on a strong research and enterprise profile across all major subjects and with consistently highly rated teaching and learning.”
The letter concluded: “The primary distinction is that, in 25 years time, UCS – while still serving the local community in terms of raising aspirations, widening participation and employability – will be far more cosmopolitan in its orientation, with truly global reach. It will remain a major regenerative force for Ipswich, Suffolk and beyond.”
The capsule was then sealed with a commemorative stone and will stay submerged for 25 years.