It is located off The Avenue, borders Southampton Common and is less than a mile from the university's main Highfield Campus.
[5] In December 1993, the university bought the site from Hampshire County Council for £2 million as a means of expansion.
[7] As a result, the sought solution was to expand onto another campus and the former Taunton's school was chosen due to its close proximity to Highfield.
[8] The building was completed and occupied from late 1996[1] ironically soon before the requirement for car parking was removed due to a change in planning regulations that allowed instead for an improved public transport network.
Social facilities are solely provided by the Avenue Cafe, run by the university catering department.