51³Ô¹ÏÍø

One of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's most distinguished graduates opened the College's new Alumni Visitor Centre today.

The Singaporean businessman Mr Koh Boon Hwee (Mechanical Engineering, 1972), Chairman of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), joined 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s President & Rector, members of the College's Council and other prominent alumni to formally open the new facility for former students on the South Kensington Campus.

The Alumni Visitor Centre provides an exclusive space on campus for visiting 51³Ô¹ÏÍø alumni and their guests to relax, work, meet friends and colleagues, and catch up with the latest developments at the College.

Sir Keith O’Nions, President & Rector, welcomed guests of honour Mr Koh and Professor Bertil Andersson, President of NTU and a Fellow of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Sir Keith noted that the relationship between 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and NTU, in developing the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore's newest medical school which will admit its first students on 5 August 2013, was the College’s most important university collaboration. 

Koh Boon Hwee opens the Alumni Visitor Centre

After unveiling a plaque and declaring the Alumni Visitor Centre open, Mr Koh noted how much the College had changed since he was a student, with iconic campus buildings now facing onto Exhibition Road. He said, “It’s important to engage alumni and it’s great to see 51³Ô¹ÏÍø developing these activities. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø has alumni all over the world and London is probably the most cosmopolitan city. Alumni will pop by and the Alumni Visitor Centre provides a very good point of contact.” 

The Centre offers 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's 160,000 alumni across the world a base in London where they can enjoy free wi-fi, complimentary refreshments, a lounge area, newspapers and magazines, a left-luggage service, and a bookable meeting room. The facility is easily accessible from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's Main Entrance on Exhibition Road and is situated next to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s brand new College Café.

Anne Blake, alumnus (Mechanical Engineering, 1974) and a member of the Court of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, said: “The new Alumni Visitor Centre is a great idea. Alumni coming to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø can wander round campus, reminiscing about their time here, but it’s invaluable that they now have a space specifically for them, where they feel welcome. I’m sure the facilities on offer in the new Centre will prove really popular.”

The Centre is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, excluding bank holidays and College closure days. The Centre can also be privately booked by alumni until 22:30.

We ask alumni to sign the visitor book and provide their name and graduation date to Centre staff upon entry. Alumni may bring up to two guests. 

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