Celebrating the First Year of the Student Centre
18 February 2020
Since it opened in 2019, the Student Centre quickly became the new heart of UCL's Bloomsbury campus.
![UCL Student Centre UCL Student Centre](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/library/files/styles/large_image/public/news-ucl-student-centre-25.jpg?itok=-dBFV42f)
Providing practical support through a new Student Enquiries Centre, and with 1,104 new study spaces managed by Library Services, the Student Centre was designed by and for students. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every single day of the year.
Over the past year it has quickly become a focal point for study, events and student life - and as the stats below show - an essential space to think, explore, collaborate, discover and challenge.
![Word cloud](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/library/files/styles/large_image/public/news-sc-wordcloud.png?itok=J6cMnQ2V)
1,672,603 visits
![Graphic representing visitors](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/library/files/styles/large_image/public/news-sc-visitors.png?itok=OVU_x2jO)
Based on entries through the security gates from 18.02.19 – 31.01.20.
“I love the social study areas and the terrace and gender neutral loos”
39,179 students walk-in enquiries dealt with in Student Enquiries Centre
![Graphic representing here to help](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/library/files/styles/large_image/public/news-sc-here-to-help.png?itok=Oz69tbhM)
“The UCL Student Centre is just wow!”
200 student events
“"Día de Muertos (Day of the Death) is one of the most relevant and loved traditions of Mexican culture. Having the chance to use the Student Centre allowed us to come together as the community of Mexicans at UCL, to carry on with our traditions while sharing with the broader UCL community, at one of the best common spaces in campus. We put a lot of hard work and heart on this, and the wonderful reaction of the hundreds of people that took the time to stop, feel amazed with the colourful Altar, and ask questions about its meaning, was the best gift and another reason to feel proud about our cultural identity and as Mexican society at UCL."
Jose Luis, on behalf of the UCL Mexican Society.
Sustainably designed
We halved the carbon footprint of concrete used in the building by using industrial waste products within the mix.
“That concrete though.”
3,616 drop-ins to the Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing Team
![Graphic representing plants](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/library/files/styles/large_image/public/news-sc-plants.png?itok=Q0YPi01q)
30.44 megawatt hours of renewable energy
Generated through 250m2 of solar panels – saving over £4,000 on our electricity bills!
![Solar panels on the roof of the Student Centre](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/library/files/styles/large_image/public/news-sc-solar-panels.jpg?itok=rZHe_Uuf)
“I think it is an amzing [sic] place, love ucl”
Meditation sessions
![Graphic representing contemplation](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/library/files/styles/large_image/public/news-sc-contemplation.png?itok=wxf-pMJa)
100 students have taken part in Meditation sessions since they began in January 2020.
4,386 visits to the IT Services Front Desk in the Student Centre
![Graphic representing group study](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/library/files/styles/large_image/public/news-sc-group-study.png?itok=lQFH_yft)
“You have a superb [ISD] team, I was overwhelmed at their commitment”.
The Student Centre uses around half the amount of water compared to similar modern buildings
![Graphic representing water bottle](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/library/files/styles/large_image/public/news-sc-bottle.png?itok=UbKoUA9N)
“The student centre is truly a feat of engineering :-)”
“Steps peng tings”
22,025 letters printed for students within the SEC.
![Graphic representing letters](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/library/files/styles/large_image/public/news-sc-letters.png?itok=IZHZNZg0)
“Absolutely amazing I've got new motivation to study now”
70% of desks are being used by students at any time during term time
![Graphic representing individual study](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/library/files/styles/large_image/public/news-sc-individual-study.png?itok=FqRBN219)
On average, 11am – 7pm. The total number of students in the building may be higher.
“I've been working at the new student centre - which is absolutely fantastic by the way”
Competition
What do you think of the Student Centre? Enter this month’s #LoveUCL competition and share your own favourite spaces with us.