[04
OCT 99] COVENTRY UNIVERSITY PRESS RELEASE
£3.2 Million Grant For University's Odeon Redevelopment![Odeon Cinema, Coventry [990330-CS]](../../../../coventry/images/990330-odeon1-w200.jpg) Coventry University has been awarded a grant of over £3.2 million
for its development of the Odeon Cinema as a state-of-the-art centre for its performing
arts and media courses.
The money comes from the Higher Education Funding Council
for England and is being awarded under their £250 million Improving Poor Estates
Initiative.
The distinctive dome and facade of the 67-year-old
building, which closes as a cinema in October, will be retained and the retail premises
within the building will also stay.
The University will transform the building into a
first-class facility for its performing arts students studying music, drama and dance, who
are currently based on a site at Bishop Ullathorne School, Leasowes Avenue. They will be
joined by the University's Communication, Culture and Media students.
The University has been keen to bring its performing arts
students on the main campus for some time and the Odeon is the ideal solution.
The development will create a vibrant focal point for the
performing arts, incorporating the latest lighting and sound equipment and a purpose-built
stage which will be used to stage public performances by the students.
Commenting on the award the University's Director of
Estates, Bill
Woolhead said:
"We were very pleased to receive the award in the face
of stiff competition. The revitalisation of the Odeon building is a good scheme, occupying
an ideal location in the centre of our campus and retaining a prominent Coventry building
for the future."
MORE INFORMATION:
Cyrrhian Macrae or Floyd Jebson 01203 838352
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