City centre university building to officially open

The building includes a glazed ground-floor entrance, which can be used as an exhibition space

A new design and digital arts building at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is set to be officially opened later.

The building features a glazed ground-floor entrance and a virtual production film suite, which the university said had the same technology used to make Disney’s Star Wars spin-off The Mandalorian.

Simon Starling, an NTU graduate and Turner Prize winner, will open the building on the city campus on Wednesday.

Prof Edward Peck, vice-chancellor and president of the university, said the building "will enable NTU to expand its contribution to rapidly growing creative industries".

Michael Marsden, from the Nottingham School of Art & Design

He added it would also "allow the Nottingham School of Art & Design, and the city as a whole, to become the most innovative hotbed for digital art and design talent in the UK".

The university said the space would help develop its credentials in filmmaking, animation, user experience (UX) design, gaming, graphic design and illustration, together with traditional design practice.

The building welcomed its first intake of students in September.

A series of academic events are taking place to mark the building’s opening including discussion panels with guest speakers, student showcases, and a research and knowledge exchange event.

Meanwhile, two digital artworks have been commissioned to be displayed inside, and projected on to exterior glass facing Shakespeare Street until 15 November.

Michael Marsden, executive dean of the Nottingham School of Art & Design, said: "Our new artistic commissions go to the very heart of our aims and ambitions for the D&DA building – to give artists the space to consider, create, and collaborate in a digitally immersive and live environment."