The Waterfront Building, located in the heart of the bustling Ipswich Waterfront, opened in 2008 and was our first dedicated teaching, learning and social space.

The building has six floors and contains: two main lecture theatres each seating 180 people, large lecture theatres with a capacity of 120 to 140 seated, medium lecture theatres with a capacity of 60 to 100 seated, and smaller conference rooms with a capacity of six to 18 seated. There is also a mock courtroom which is used by Law students, training sessions by legal organisations or board room meetings. All lecture theatres are fitted with state-of-the-art AV equipment, and every teaching room has IT equipment.

In March 2026, the new library was opened on the second floor. The new, modern space includes a refreshed book collection with more space for sub-collections, an extensive digital library and spaces for one-to-one appointments with Academic Skills Advisers.

Informal study spaces for individual and group learning can be found on the first, third and fourth floors, where students can access networked computers and printers. A postgraduate study area is situated on the fourth floor.

A new sensory room (W1.27) also opened in 2026. Featuring a range of different colours and low-level lighting, it provides a calm, comfortable and quiet space to regulate away from screens and learning environments.

The ground floor of the building is home to The Mix Coffee Shop, an exhibition space, a large foyer which is used for a variety of events, the main Waterfront Reception and the Student Centre, a one-stop-shop, giving current and potential students information and advice on all aspects of student life including course advice and how to apply.

Access to the Waterfront Building is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During the hours of 6.00am-10.00pm through the main and rear entrance doors or during the hours of 10.00pm-6.00am via the rear entrance door from the car park with authorised ID Card. The security team are available 24/7 and are based in the office behind Waterfront Reception.