UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk has celebrated reaching new heights.A crowd gathered at the Waterfront to be part of the Topping Out ceremony which saw the last beam being added to the building's roof.

Tom Potter

UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk has celebrated reaching new heights.

A crowd gathered at the Waterfront to be part of the Topping Out ceremony which saw the last beam being added to the building's roof.

Professor Bob Anderson, chief executive officer of University Campus Suffolk, led the event with representatives from contractors Wilmott Dixon.

Prof Andreson said: “This is a building I think we can all be proud of and it's going to be great for the students and staff.

“We were really worried about the wind and rain but they didn't slow us down. We are on track and we will be teaching in this building in September.”

During the ceremony, Prof Anderson was presented with a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Award.

The award was given to UCS in recognition of the environmental performance of the buildings designs and the sustainability of the construction.

Dr Peter Funnell, Director of Enterprise and Executive Dean at UCS, said: “This is a real achievement for higher education in Suffolk and a statement of intent for the future of UCS.

“It's a very interesting and novel development with a key location right in the centre of town where a lot of people will see our living roof change over the seasons.”

The first landmark building on the Ipswich Waterfront will open in September.

UCS is a partnership between the University of East Anglia and the University of Essex, working with Lowestoft College, Great Yarmouth College, Otley College, Suffolk New College and West Suffolk College.

The first students enrolled at UCS in September last year.