Former V&A director opens university centre (From Kingston Guardian)

Former V&A director opened Kingston University learning resources centre

8:20am Sunday 6th May 2012 in News By Clare Buchanan

The first female director of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) opened a new learning resources centre named in her honour.

Dame Elizabeth Esteve-Coll, who led the V&A from 1987 to 1995, was welcomed back to the heart of Kingston University’s faculty of art, design and architecture for the special opening ceremony at its Knights Park campus.

The new centre is part of an £11m improvement programme, which includes the refurbishment of studio space, an upgraded reception and gallery area and external landscaping. The former university librarian oversaw the first major shakeup of learning resources at what was Kingston Polytechnic in the late 1970s and recalled her experiences at the official opening on Tuesday, April 24.

Dame Elizabeth said: “Arts students have an individual and personal approach to interpreting the world around them. They need knowledgeable mentors and the latest equipment to access the triggers which can illuminate their personal vision.”

The new venue, designed by architects Pascall and Watson, is already proving popular attracting 28 per cent more students through its turnstiles since it opened last month and boasts several sustainable features.

A time capsule buried at the campus in 1953 and excavated in 2011 at the beginning of the building work was reburied at the opening ceremony with some objects from the 21st century.