Pictures: inside the John Henry Brookes building

The Tab gets an exclusive sneak peek inside the long awaited John Henry Brookes building, which (finally!) opens, in stages, from 24th February.

The new foyer

The building work, which has been going on for the entire duration of my time here at Brookes has cost the university £132 million in total (including Abercrombie, which opened in 2013).

Cafe Central – ‘Light bites and Starbucks coffee’

Brookes Union Bar – “a relaxed, casual environment to hang out in”

The Terrace – finally, the inside of that building we’ve all been walking past for the last two years

Cafe area on ground floor

New lecture theatre

One of many new teaching spaces – but has your course made the cut?

Library work spaces, with an abundance of plugs – a good sign

So, when we say our goodbyes to the old library this Friday at 8pm, it will be for the last time. The new library, which for now can only be accessed through Abercrombie, will open on Wednesday 26th February at 8.30am.

‘The Cube’ style (presumably quiet) rooms in the new library

We’re still wondering why moving week just had to be this close to dissertation deadline?

View of upper library levels from the busier group zone

All set to move the books over

Opening later on will be The Colonnade, a “cosmopolitan public space for Headington”, where the bank, bookshop, dentist and doctors can be found in one convenient space.

The Colonnade – still a long way to go to cosmopolitan

Access to the new building after 9pm will be granted by scanning your student card at these points

With thanks to Joanne Carr and Ed Reed for showing The Tab around.

What do you think? Email [email protected] to have your say.