Colour, collaboration and creativity: our new breakout space in pictures

EEE's latest refurbishment project is a place for all staff and PhD students to relax, connect and collaborate, and it now has a brand new name.

Project Manager Zia Rahman says the new room, which was opened earlier this tern, has been designed as a hybrid environment: “..where users can work within the enclosed pods and booth and play in a space infused with colour, comfortable seating and social features."

Bright ideas

Students and staff were invited to submit their name suggestions for the space, on the ninth floor of the Electrical Engineering Building, and the name selected by the Department is Circuit Breaker. This popular choice announced last week was separately suggested by four people, so credit goes collectively to Rawan Abdulsadig, Ben Biggs, Lina Brazinskaite and Zia Rahman.

Consultation and collaboration

Postgraduate student rep Ciske Smit said that the PhD students had been really excited to hear they would have a new dedicated area on the ninth floor. "They’d been hoping for a place where they could hang out for lunch, have casual chats, or take a quick break. By actively consulting with the students, Zia and Vale have put together a bright, welcoming space perfect for socialising, relaxing, and even getting work done."

"We’re hoping this new area will bring PhDs and Postdocs closer together, making it easier to connect and build a stronger sense of community.”

Taking a break - check out the new space

Team effort

Zia says that a whole team of fantastic people have been responsible for creating this inspiring new space: “This project would not have been possible without thanking our DOM Alice Ashley-Smith for indulging me to experiment with new design concepts, and my amazing FM team Vale Gapsyte and Aurelio De Sousa Ferreira for helping put it all together."

"Extended thanks must also go to Ciske Smit, for contributing to the consultation discussions, colours, design and furniture selection, Steve Ryan from Quest Interiors who managed the construction of the space including the new kitchen counter and TV wall and finally John Canty from Hadleymount Ltd who completed the space with our wonderful wallpaper print."