Reintroducing the Sir James Matthews Building
Since opening in 2024 the Sir James Matthews (SJM) building has had a significant impact on our presence in Southampton city centre, sitting alongside One Guildhall Square and the John Hansard Art Gallery.
This academic year many staff will be returning to the city campus, alongside others who will be based there for the very first time. We hope that, as staff, you are able to use the University’s facilities confidently and comfortably to positively impact your time at work.
Deborah Gill, Vice-President (Education) said:
The Sir James Matthews building is a fantastic space to work and study – I am delighted with how the space has come to life since we opened in 2024 and huge thanks goes to all of those involved in making that happen. SJM has helped cement our civic links in the city, as well providing a new campus hub for those wanting take advantage of the vibrant mix of restaurants, shops and green spaces nearby. I am always delighted to visit and hear how much staff and students enjoy the city centre campus.
To help you make the most of your time based at SJM, Staff Matters has worked alongside Building Manager Zach Christie to give you a virtual tour of the building’s facilities:
Teaching and work spaces
No matter what work you need to do, SJM has a large variety of bookable or drop-in spaces that can fit your working style and requirements.
Teaching and seminar spaces can be booked through RoomBook. Drop-in and study areas are open to all, which may be useful to staff looking to catch up on work between teaching, meetings or travel.
Level seven drop down spaces
We’re delighted to announce that our level seven drop down spaces are available for staff use.
All shared facilities and office spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with no advance booking required. The only exception is Room 7047, which can be booked through Outlook or by contacting Marie Cross.
Shared Staff Facilities
- Staff Rest Area: Comfortable sofas, informal workspaces, and private seating booths suitable for breaks, informal meetings, or personal calls.
- Kitchenettes: Two shared kitchenettes equipped with microwaves, refrigerators, and tea/coffee-making facilities.
- Reception/Waiting Area: A small communal waiting area with a reception desk, which is staffed during specific events.
Meeting and Office Spaces
- Room 7045: A small, self-contained office with an individual workstation and meeting table.
- Room 7047: A conference room accommodating approximately 12 people, equipped with dual display screens and conferencing facilities.
- Room 7049: A shared office accommodating up to eight people at individual workstations.
- Room 6059: A smaller shared office accommodating four people, located on Level 6 but connected to the wider Level 7 facilities.
Access is controlled using University identity cards. Step-free access to the Level 7 facilities is available via the Level 7 lift, while Room 6059 can be accessed independently via the Level 6 lift.
For any access related issues, staff can contact access@soton.ac.uk or alternatively email Zach directly.
Group and individual meeting pods
Meeting pods are helpful for those needing a more quiet space to have in-person meetings, teams calls or even just some focused working time. All pods are soundproof, and are available to book for both staff and students.
As Zach mentioned, individual pods (alongside smaller group pods) can be found in The Junction Student Enterprise workspace. We also spoke to Clare Old – Student Enterprise Manager – who is based in The Junction about what she thinks of the space, and what it has to offer.
The Artisan
Being right in the heart of the city means you have access to a lot of different choices when it comes to lunch – that being said, we’re very proud of The Artisan, SJM’s own café. The team are really welcoming and would love to see both new and old faces spending time there.
The Artisan also welcomes the general public, as well as staff and students, so is a great place to meet or recommend to others.
Tech Hub and laptop loaning
Technical support is always nearby when basing yourself on the city campus. Zach ventured down to Level 1 (the basement) and spoke to Caidan Welch, Tech Hub lead, about what they offer.
The SJM Tech Hub is open 09:00-17:00 every day the University is open.
The Student Hub
SJM also has its own Student Hub, which is our students’ main point of contact for support at the University.
It’s important for staff to know where support can be accessed, so you can signpost students to The Student Hub if needed. You can find The Student Hub at SJM next to reception and The Artisan on the ground floor. It is open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 – 16:00.
Getting to SJM
The Sir James Matthews Building can be found at 157-187 Above Bar Street, Southampton, SO14 7FQ – opposite 1GS (Guildhall Square). The entrance is opposite the Scholars Arms.
The general opening hours for SJM are 8:00–20:00.
SJM is a 16 minute cycle from Highfield. As shown above, there is a secure bike store on the corner of the building nearest the library which is accessible via swipe card access.
U1 buses run between Highfield Interchange, the city centre and NOCS at an 8 min frequency throughout the day. U2 buses run between Highfield Interchange, Boldrewood and Avenue Campuses at a 10 min frequency. The nearest University bus stops to SJM are the Giddy Bridge on London and the Cenotaph.
The railway station is about a 9 min walk from the building.
You can find more information on transport – and parking – on Sharepoint.
Event spaces
SJM also has bookable event spaces which include rooms 2063/2065, the Student Hub, The Junction and teaching spaces.
You may have already seen some of these spaces in use for Summer or Winter Graduation.
To enquire about booking spaces around SJM for your events, please contact hospitality@southampton.ac.uk.
We hope this tour has helped you discover more about what the Sir James Matthews building has to offer. Zach and the team look forward to welcoming colleagues to SJM and encourage you to explore the building, make use of its facilities and enjoy everything it has to offer.
More information about the building can be found at the Sir James Matthews SharePoint site.
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