SMART Centre shortlisted for South Coast Property Award

The £9 million project, which saw the complete refurbishment of the former Sir Christopher Cockerell Building at the University’s city centre campus on East Park Terrace, Southampton, has been recognised in the Repurposing Project of the Year category.

The building dates back to the 1960s, when it was constructed as a single-storey marine technology workshop as part of the former Southampton College of Technology. Named after hovercraft inventor Sir Christopher Cockerell, it also features a unique basement water tank used for model ship testing, helping students understand hydrodynamics.

As part of the redevelopment the project team - from Francis Construction, Peter Marsh Consulting and PDP Architecture - overcame the complex challenge of retaining the historic tank room while reconfiguring the internal layout to deliver new facilities that could be used by the South Coast Institute of Technology (South Coast IoT) - a collaboration of two universities, four colleges and employers across the south of England, focused on boosting student success and supporting the long-term sustainability of key industries in the region.

The refurbished SMART Centre now features modern teaching spaces, laboratories and specialist workshops for marine, engineering and technology learning, transforming the building into a facility fit for 21st-century education.

By retaining the building’s primary steel structure and foundations, the project has extended the life of the 60-year-old asset while avoiding the carbon impact of demolition and rebuild—an approach that can reduce embodied carbon by up to 75%.

The project was completed in time for the start of the 2025–26 academic year, with the SMART Centre officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in January 2026.

Matt Johnson, Director of the South Coast IoT, says, “Being shortlisted for this award is fantastic recognition of the vision behind the SMART Centre and the impact it is already having.

“This facility is giving students access to industry-standard environments where they can develop the skills, confidence and experience employers are looking for. This facility is key to the success of the South Coast Institute of Technology, enabling us to work closely with regional partners to create a pipeline of career-ready talent that will support the future growth of maritime, engineering and technology industries across the south.”

Solent University is the lead partner of the South Coast IoT. Supported by more than £15 million in funding from the Department for Education, it provides students with the opportunity to become future leaders in maritime, engineering and technology through access to cutting-edge facilities and industry-relevant learning.

As well as playing a key role in the success of the South Coast IoT, the SMART Centre further strengthens the University’s position as an innovative hub for higher education, helping to develop career-ready graduates with the skills needed to support the region’s maritime, engineering and technology sectors.

Cathy Barnes, Pro Vice-Chancellor for research and academic strategy planning at Solent University says, “This shortlisting highlights our commitment to delivering high-quality, future-focused learning environments.

“The SMART Centre exemplifies how we are investing in facilities and partnerships that directly respond to the needs of industry, ensuring that we produce career ready graduates with the professional skills, technical expertise and confidence to succeed.

“By working collaboratively through the South Coast Institute of Technology, we are not only enhancing opportunities for our students but also strengthening the talent pipeline that is vital to the continued growth and innovation of the region.”