Draft Lux Proposal

Main Aim

To fully realise the potential of Lux as a multi-purpuse venue by establishing a balance of both a student friendly ambiance and conference room formality.

Introduction

At the beginning of the 2006/07 term student opinion was sought over the opening hours of the Students’ Union building. The students were overwhelmingly of the opinion that the Union should be open all day everyday and maintain the principles of free and open access for all and to be a venue free from intimidation and harassment. However, the student feedback also contained a very strong desire to change Lux back to what it was prior to 2005/06. Clearly it is appreciated that in regards to value for money Lux must be retained as a multi-purpose venue to be able to operate at every opportunity.

This proposal would like to make it clear that this is not an attempt to bring back the old nightclub but rather it is the principle aim to identify means to enable Lux to operate effectively as a multi-faceted venue capable of operating as a space for exhibitions, presentations, conferences, nightclub, fashion show, boxing, dinner room etc. In its current incarnation it has been identified that it is too heavily weighted towards a conference room limiting Lux and raising concerns.   

Impact of Liquid and Envy

The new major nightclub Liquid and Envy will be opening at the end of April. This comes in part with the councils objectives to remove nightclubs from the seafront. There will be some expected impact upon the Students’ Union trading with the opening of the new venue, however it can also be considered a opportunity because the Students’ Union will now be in the middle of the principle area of nightlife in the city Guildhall Walk (the other main area Gunwarf remains in its current fashion). This changing dynamic illustrates the necessity for the Students Union to be putting out a whole new vibe to students in the 2007/08 term.

Strategy

Over the course of the last three months working groups were constructed between UPSU and UPEL. Here the students concerns were raised and avenues for improvement identified. Generally, the areas for improvement are painting, barriers, decoration, draping, furniture, lighting, seating, and acoustics. In an effort to set proper and realistic goals these have been separated into short, medium and long-term objectives. However, before we can move forward we need approval from the board for a budget to bring in any potential consultants for change.

Conclusion

For this proposal to move forward it will require financial investment, so it is appreciated that there is not a bottomless pit of money available. Dead space though is of no benefit to anyone. However, intelligent investment into a multi-purpose venue will appeal to more than just students in evening time but to many other stakeholders. We have already seen events take place such as open days, exhibitions, fashion shows, dinners, and boxing nights. However, there remain many other avenues that could be explored in regards to public speaking, training, live bands, college and school events, and many others within the local community. If Lux was to reach is full potential there would be few, if any, venues in Portsmouth that could offer the same degree of flexibility at the same level of size.

Finally, it is vital to recognise that any potential changes would be more than aesthetic. Students will be able to see real physical change to their building as a result of their feedback. This will lend students real ownership over their venue which is a priceless asset the Students’ Union building holds over any other local venue.

Comments have been closed for this article

 

 

About time!!! 
 
I have stopped going to the union because it doesn't feel like an open place anymore. It would be great if the union could include a wireless place for students to work together on group projects in a social environment, the waterhole is great but it would be better if there was a dedicated area in which students could specifically study together and enjoy themseleves, somewhere much more informal and social than the library where a real student community atmosphere could be developed.

Sat, 21 Apr 2007

 

 

So lets see some plans for the new club!

gary - Sat, 21 Apr 2007

 

 

Yeah i'd like to here some plans for lux too. I have noticed changes over time like the benches that were there last night and more seating under the screen, however it has A LONG WAY to go before its going to appeal to students over super clubs like Liquid and Envy.

Tom Worman - Sat, 21 Apr 2007

 

 

Bout bloody time!

Dave - Sat, 21 Apr 2007

 

 

Is there anywhere we can propose any ideas for the new development? 
 
The defined stage are thats retractable was a good step this year, perhaps a defined dance area that's retractable. Bring back the big tube fishtanks that gave it that kewl vibe, any why can't a balcony in lux be of some use? wouldnt affect the other purposes of the room? I work for liquid and they have it off to a T with design but it is a soul pupose venue. But a leaf from there book might be creating seperate bar areas like before with shots bar, ect, maybe evern a small cocktail bar. Need to bring in some cooler themes to the venue. Maybe UV glassware or some funky drink mix's theres so many points you can take from othr clubs on club nights from all over the country, like have fat frogs(actually 2 drinks when you order 1 of them) i saw in liverpool where a mix of WKD, SMIRNOFF ICE AND REEF £3.50 and you get just short of 2 pints with those, a wheel that is spun every half hour to have a new theme every half hour, e.g. shots are half price for half hour, £1 a pint for half hour ect and tonnes more. How about every now and then maybe ice sculpture features, theres absolutely tonnes, so much imagination and things you can learn from other clubs.

Paul C (e-business) - Sun, 22 Apr 2007

 

 

well im interested to see the improvements and changes- but im not holding my breath by any means. the people who have the students interests at heart- i.e that we want lux turned into a proper nightclub again- have got their hands tied by the university who own lux and want it as a function room. and there is absolutely no chance the union will be able to compete with liquid and envy!!! they invested £5million into the place FFS! im just glad im leaving this year- the union is a shambolic joke end of

Sun, 22 Apr 2007

 

 

When I first started uni, Portsmouth had the best student union around. Lux was a major part in that because it was so cool, and interesting and different to anywhere else in pompy at the time. While i understood the need to make it multifunctional to make more money out it, the way that was done took away its style and originality. I think this new plan of redesigning it is brilliant, and might even go someway to earning back the respect that students once held for it!

Rob Kenefeck - Mon, 23 Apr 2007

 

 

As a student that experienced the union when it opened and in its current state I'm all for something to be done about it. Speaking as a person that has worked in the union (when it was actually busy)and now as a very seldom visitor it still seams that the venues are trying to be something that they are not. Which other night clubs are there in Portsmouth that are completly white??? Hmmmm let me think...  
 
There is also another thing that always seems to be overlooked that is there are hundreds of potential architects and interior designers within this university. Why not for a change ask these people for there ideas and thoughts concidering that we are actually quite creative on a dayly basis.  
 
If something isn't sorted out in the very near future there won't be a venue left to save, not even for conferencing... Good luck...

Tue, 24 Apr 2007

 

 

At last!! My first two years at the union were fab- it was the best club in Portsmouth. Then when I came back in 2005, it had turned into an ugly clinical place. I don't even go there anymore now. Bring back the old style lux or something similar! It was the best!!

Sarah (Geography) - Fri, 27 Apr 2007

 

 

in response to the what other clubs are white.....i think u will find that liquid and envy is white!

Sun, 29 Apr 2007

 

 

good job chris!!!!!  
 
Every1 liked the old Lux

charlee - Mon, 30 Apr 2007

 

 

I left Uni in 2001 and came back to do an MSC 2002-2003, I have also been back many times since as i have friends who still live in Pompey. I have therefore had the pleasure of experiencing both the current Students Union building and the Old One on Museum Road. 
 
UPSU has never manged to capture the same feel with the new union as they did with the old one, in whatever layout they have devloped. 
 
The problem is that the new union feels sterile, empty and lacking in atomosphere. the old Union with the Garage, Lighthouse and Ranchhouse gave a distinct feel of a students union rather than a union made for the students. The new one has always felt to me like UPSU designed the layout based on the numourous Towney nightclubs around pompey. Instead they should have taken a look at some other the other great unions in the country such as Manchester and Cardiff. 
 
Now I appreciate That its been alomost 10 years since I first went to pompey uni (98-01 best years of my life!) and times change (there were much less bars in guildhall in 98-just yates,fleet and weatherspoons plus some dodgy ones), i am also bound to be a little nostalgic but i really feel that for the union to attract the same kind attention it did back then they really need to rethink the whole thing.

Pedro - Mon, 30 Apr 2007

 

 

The Pyramids is closing as a live music venue, leaving Lux in the Union as the largest venue in Portsmouth rivalled only by the Guildhall. Several live music events have proved popular and successful in the CO2 bar and with the use of these two bars plus a vote at the Union council to open the venue to the general public on certain nights for gigs would transform the status of the venue both in the local scene and financially for UPSU. 
 
The Rock Society are very interested in running or collaborating on live music nights with UPSU following several consecutive successful events at other venues (boat party, spinnaker tower, etc.). Feel free to e-mail us at webmaster@rockwith.me.uk or post on our forum @ www.rockwith.me.uk if you (UPSU or any students that would like to see bands).

Pete from the Rock Soc (Computing) - Tue, 01 May 2007

 

 

The union does have some great potential and at least this proposal is a step in the right direction, but it's only a start really.  
 
At the people commenting on having a balcony - that would be wicked, but logistically how would it be put in? And I don't even think the ceiling is high enough to have any sort of decent height balcony. 
 
It could be looked into but I just don't think Lux would work well with it because of the shape of the room - putting a balcony in means the soundsystem will probably have to be changed around and fixed into place - is this practical? maybe it is, maybe it isn't?

Skribla - Thu, 03 May 2007

 

 

Listen to your potential customers, the students. Ask what *they* want at the Union. Doing some research will stop you wasting money, yet again, on an establishment that students don't want to go to. 
 
Talk to us, alot of us, and find out what we want. There is plenty of potential for something great.

Andrew - Mon, 07 May 2007