Wellbeing at heart of new centre
Students are to benefit from a new hub dedicated to promoting health and wellbeing.
The University is investing £8m to develop the Wellbeing Centre at 7 Bristo Square.
The fully accessible building will give students easy access to an expanded range of essential services.
Edinburgh’s Student Counselling and Disability Services – both located in the Main Library – will be brought together with the medical practice and pharmacy for the first time.
Wellness hub
The building will be extended on the ground floor. It will include an accessible entrance and wellbeing lounge – a calm, welcoming space designed to promote positive mental health.
A reception area and waiting room for the Student Counselling and Disability Services will be located on the first floor.
Consultation rooms for one-to-one meetings and group sessions will be available on the first and second floors, as well as on the lower ground level.
The Students’ Association fed into the design process for the new centre, which is scheduled to open in late 2019. Renovation work will begin this summer.
We welcome the investment into a new Wellbeing Centre which will expand and improve the space available for the Student Counselling and Disability Services. It is crucial that students are able to access support while at university and we are excited to see this project going ahead, showing this is a clear priority.
Continued support
The Student Counselling and Disability Services will continue to operate out of the Main Library during construction.
The medical practice and pharmacy at 7 Bristo Square will remain open during the works.
The development will also allow the pharmacy to improve the range of goods and services on offer.
Learning spaces
Once complete, the centre will free up space in the Main Library for around 100 new study places.
Teaching rooms currently in use at 7 Bristo Square will close in summer 2018. New spaces will be available at the Lister Learning and Teaching Centre and High School Yards from September 2018.
Student facilities
The Wellbeing Centre is part of a £200 million investment being made over the next eight years to dramatically improve facilities for students.
The developments will enhance the Edinburgh experience by delivering an extensive range of benefits.
These include expanded and improved teaching and study spaces, a major new Student Centre and enhanced sports facilities.
This development is a fantastic example of the University’s commitment to delivering excellent wellbeing services. The Wellbeing Centre is an exciting initiative that will put student wellbeing at the heart of the University’s city centre campus, making it easier for students that need help to access support, and expanding the range of spaces and services on offer.