6:00pm Saturday 14th July 2007
By Matt Wilkinson
A multi-million pound business centre named after a university dean has been hailed as an educational environment for the future.
The Simon Williams Undergraduate Centre was unveiled on Friday at the Oxford Brookes University Wheatley campus by the univerity's Chancellor, newsreader Jon Snow.
The centre was named after Simon Williams, who killed himself by stepping in front of a train, after learning he could have Sjogren's syndrome - an auto-immune disorder.
Vice chancellor Prof Graham Upton said the centre was a fitting tribute to Mr Williams, who lived in Kennington.
He added: "His remarkable qualities as an educator are captured perfectly here.
"He brought to the school tremendous intellect, industry, integrity, modesty, kindness and humour, so how fitting that a building created to cultivate social communities and help students develop these very same qualities as part of their learning experience, should bear his name."
Mr Williams's daughters Kirsty and Mel also spoke at the unveiling.
Mr Williams was dean at the university between 1997 and 2005 and a scholarship bearing his name has been established.
The present dean, David Langford, said the building was a learning centre designed for the future.
He added: "This is what learning environments are going to look like in the future. Yet here we already have it.
"I very much respected Simon Williams and he set the tone for the business school."
Inside the undergraduate centre, there is low slung seating, wireless technology, mood lighting, moveable screens and large glass walls.
Students can also use the space to build their own room for large or small groups or private areas.
Mr Langford said: "It is not just about sitting in a classroom learning from a teacher. It's an environment for working together in very flexible ways."
Much of the internal design was agreed and voted for by undergraduates.
Martyn Greenwood, business management undergraduate, organised canvassing students, and officially declared the building open.
He said: "I think its fantastic. I am really pleased with it. The large windows attract people inside.
"The furniture is really easy to move around depending on the size of the group and you can arrange it to meet your needs."
The Simon William's Memorial Fund is being established at Oxford Brookes University Business School.
Anyone interested in making a contribution can call the fundraising office on 01865 485891.
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