New Canterbury Christ Church University STEM building named

8th March 2021 Ethon Castleton 815 Views canterbury, Canterbury Christ Church University, cccu, Engineering, Kent, STEM, Verena Holmes

Canterbury Christ Church University celebrates today as it unveils its latest building, the Verena Holmes building.
The new building will specialise in engineering, technology, health and medicine. Costing £65 million, this building adds variety to the university’s site and expands availability for the courses on campus.

The Verena Holmes building, named after the Kent-based engineer who was born in Ashford, 1889. The building acts as a celebration towards women all across the world. The building also highlights the triumphs of women in engineering and technology, who have continued to strive for the future.

Look out for exciting #STEM news next week as we celebrate British Science Week #BSW21 #STEMCCCU pic.twitter.com/tQr011xfgX

— Canterbury Christ Church University (@CanterburyCCUni) March 5, 2021

Verena was chosen to be the name of the building to fit in with the aptly named buildings local to the Canterbury Christ Church University campus, because of her accomplishments and inspiration in the engineering community.

She was educated at Oxford and Loughborough University and was a strong supporter of women in engineering. Holmes was the first woman member elected to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institution of Locomotive
Engineers.

Photo credit: Canterbury Christ Church University

The building is envisioned to bring together “researches, academics, students, businesses and healthcare professionals”, according to Professor Helen James of Canterbury Christ Church University. She continues that it is a place for solving “society’s and the world’s problems.”