A TOPPING-OUT ceremony has been held as the construction of a £24 million, state-of-the-art student accommodation development continues at the Arts University Bournemouth.

The project will house more than 300 students and is being developed in conjunction with Morgan Sindall Construction and architects Design Engine.

The same team was responsible for AUB’s high-tech Drawing Studio, Student Services and Photography Building, which all form part of redevelopment works at the university’s Wallisdown campus.

The ceremony celebrates completion of the highest point of building construction and those present included Morgan Sindall Area Director Jon Daines and AUB's Chair of Governors Chris Martin.

When complete the development will feature eight-bed clusters with communal kitchens, dining areas and a landscaped courtyard, with more than 100 trees being planted to maintain a green and natural environment for students, visitors and local residents.

The development will also hold a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ environmental rating, which reflects AUB’s commitment to promote sustainability and enhanced student living, achieving greater thermal efficiency via construction, and greater energy efficiency via the building’s roof-mounted solar panels.

The project will also create 20 new jobs in the area, using a locally-recruited supply chain and creating work experience positions staffed by local colleges and apprentices.

Speaking about the scheme, Nick Welch, Chief Operating Officer at Arts University Bournemouth, said: "The AUB campus is where our students experiment, innovate and push boundaries and work with industry-standard technology and spaces to equip them for life in the creative industries.

"With this project, we hope to provide accommodation for our students where they can thrive, whilst continuing to provide a creative hub designed for specialists."

Mr Daines added: "It’s great to reach this exciting project milestone, it marks the highest point of the project as the steelwork reaches roof level. The development is really taking shape and the outstanding features of the facade with its brickwork, corner bay windows are starting to be formed."

The ceremony comes as AUB celebrates a particularly successful year, being named a Top Modern University and leading arts sector institution in terms of teaching quality, student experience, and graduate prospects by The Sunday Times Good University Guide.

In July, the university rose more than 80 places in the National Student Survey, with its BA (Hons) Dance programme ranked top in the UK in terms of student satisfaction.