Digital Life Building, Teesside University
A large-scale North East university events portfolio combining a flagship digital conference venue, specialist broadcast studios, healthcare simulation facilities, and contemporary cultural spaces across Tees Valley.
About Digital Life Building, Teesside University
Teesside University operates a distributed portfolio of event and specialist hire spaces across Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington, and London. The flagship Digital Life building anchors the offer with a 750-capacity hybrid-ready conference space, while additional facilities include MIMA contemporary art gallery, Fusion Hive innovation hub, bioscience centres, TV studios, and specialist training environments.
The venue portfolio is particularly strong for conferences, professional training, innovation events, healthcare and legal CPD, digital and creative industries, and organisations seeking specialist technical infrastructure alongside standard event space.
Why bookers choose Digital Life Building, Teesside University
One of the largest conference spaces in the Tees Valley
The Conference and Events Space within Digital Life accommodates up to 750 delegates theatre style and combines built-in hybrid infrastructure with production support and breakout capability.
Specialist facilities beyond standard conference venues
The university portfolio includes broadcast studios, VR motion capture, health simulation labs, a hydrotherapy pool, a mock courtroom, and specialist research environments available alongside traditional event spaces.
Strong digital and innovation positioning
Digital Life sits at the centre of the Tees Valley Investment Zone and supports AI, immersive media, cloud technology, and cybersecurity sectors.
Multiple venue styles across one organisation
The portfolio ranges from contemporary conference centres and business hubs through to MIMA contemporary art gallery and rooftop terrace event spaces.
Strong transport positioning for the North East
The campus is accessible via Middlesbrough station, Teesside International Airport, and direct road links to Newcastle, Leeds, York, and Durham.
Spaces
Conference and Events Space
Flagship hybrid-ready conference venue within the Digital Life building
The Conference and Events Space is the largest hireable event space within the Teesside University estate and was purpose-built for large conferences, exhibitions, and digitally enabled events. The space combines integrated AV, hybrid streaming capability, breakout areas, and professional production infrastructure within the Digital Life building.
High-specification AV equipment, hybrid streaming capability, professional technical support team, on-site event management, security support, breakout and networking spaces, on-site catering support, and equipment hire (sound systems, microphones, big screens, DJ and streaming setups).
Discovery Zone
Flexible networking and showcase space within Digital Life
The Discovery Zone is an open-plan events and networking area designed for smaller gatherings, showcases, and collaborative activity. The contemporary design and integrated digital environment make it well suited to innovation-led events and networking formats.
Integrated AV, digital display screens, technical support included, breakout seating areas and catering available.
Curve Lecture Theatre
Contemporary lecture theatre within the university's flagship teaching building
The Curve Lecture Theatre forms part of the university's ÂŁ20 million Curve building and is used for teaching, presentations, seminars, and larger group sessions. The building's modern design and central campus location make it practical for education-led conferences and training events.
High-specification AV equipment, reception desk, free Wi-Fi and catering available on request.
Seminar Rooms at The Curve
Flexible teaching and breakout rooms for collaborative sessions
The Curve includes both large and small seminar rooms designed for collaborative learning and workshop activity. These are listed as separate large and small seminar room types within the university's facilities (confirm exact capacities with venue).
Built-in AV and flexible learning layouts. Capacities to be confirmed with venue.
The Gateway
Multi-purpose event space at the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre
The Gateway is a versatile event environment used for conferences, networking, meetings, and away days. It is located at the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre rather than the main Middlesbrough campus, around a five-minute drive from Middlesbrough town centre.
High-specification AV equipment, free Wi-Fi, free on-site parking and catering available on request.
Fusion Hive
Off-campus innovation and business hub in Stockton-on-Tees
Fusion Hive operates as an independent business and innovation hub with meeting and training facilities available to external organisations. The off-campus location creates a more commercial business-hub atmosphere than a university teaching environment.
Wireless smart TVs, private enclosed meeting rooms and high-specification AV. Capacity not published (confirm with venue).
MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art)
Contemporary art gallery venue with cultural event spaces
MIMA is a contemporary art gallery and cultural institution within the Plus Tate network and operates as part of Teesside University. The venue includes gallery-led event spaces, meeting rooms, and rooftop areas suited to receptions, creative events, and networking.
Gallery foyer event space, a meeting room overlooking Centre Square and the Bottle of Notes sculpture, a roof terrace and an outdoor pavilion. Five-minute walk from Middlesbrough station. Individual space capacities not published (confirm with venue).
National Horizons Centre
Specialist bioscience and healthcare event and training facility
The National Horizons Centre is a ÂŁ22.3 million specialist bioscience and healthcare innovation facility supporting business collaboration, professional training, and workshops. Its hireable event space is a flexible seminar room, alongside specialist laboratories.
Flexible seminar room layouts, free Wi-Fi, catering available on request and adjacent research and innovation laboratories.
All spaces at a glance
| Space | theatre | cabaret | boardroom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conference and Events Space | 750 | 492 | – |
| Discovery Zone | – | – | – |
| Curve Lecture Theatre | – | – | – |
| Seminar Rooms at The Curve | – | – | – |
| The Gateway | – | – | – |
| Fusion Hive | – | – | – |
| MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art) | – | – | – |
| National Horizons Centre | 40 | – | 20 |
Guest numbers for the layout shown. A dash means that layout isn't offered in that space.
Facilities & amenities
Catering
Approach
Catering is available across the conference portfolio, particularly within Digital Life, including working lunches, buffet catering, three-course dining, bar packages and conference refreshments.
External caterers
External catering policy is not fully published and should be confirmed per building and event type.
Bars
Bar packages are available for selected events within Digital Life.
Dietary
Specific dietary policies and menu options should be confirmed directly with the venue at enquiry stage.
Is it right for your event?
Great for
- Large conferences
- Hybrid and streamed events
- Digital and innovation events
- Healthcare and bioscience CPD
- Broadcast and media production
- University and education sector events
- Professional training
- Creative showcases
- Research collaboration events
Less suited to
- Luxury hospitality-led events
- Heritage or character-led weddings
- Boutique private dining
- High-end residential conferences
- Events requiring large amounts of walkable hotel inventory immediately adjacent
- Clients needing fully published pricing upfront
Accessibility
Detailed accessibility specifications for individual rooms, specialist facilities, and gallery spaces should be confirmed directly with the university before booking.
Weddings
Location & getting there
Teesside University's main campus is located in Middlesbrough town centre within the Tees Valley region. Several portfolio venues sit outside the main campus: Fusion Hive in Stockton-on-Tees, MIMA in Middlesbrough town centre, the National Horizons Centre in Darlington, and The Gateway at the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre.
Sustainability
Digital Life is a low-energy building operating without gas on site (confirm BREEAM rating with venue). Additional sustainability and institutional credentials include Times Higher Education University of the Year 2025, TEF Gold 2023, the Customer First Standard, secure cycling infrastructure, and modern low-energy buildings.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The Digital Life Conference and Events Space accommodates up to 750 delegates theatre style and includes hybrid streaming capability and event production support.
Yes. Digital Life was purpose-built for digitally enabled events and includes integrated streaming infrastructure, AV systems, and technical support teams.
Yes. Facilities include health simulation labs, a mock courtroom, broadcast studios, VR motion capture, and specialist research labs.
Yes. The portfolio includes Fusion Hive in Stockton-on-Tees, MIMA in Middlesbrough town centre, the National Horizons Centre in Darlington, and The Gateway at the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre.
Yes. Parking is available on campus and within Middlesbrough town centre, with free on-site parking at off-campus sites such as The Gateway. Availability for large events should be confirmed at booking stage.
Yes. MIMA, TUCan Studios, Digital Life, and the university's immersive media and broadcast infrastructure make the portfolio particularly relevant for creative, digital, and production-led events.