Work started on the new Arts Building in 1972 on the field between the old SU building and the Horton Laboratory. Work was completed in 1975 and the building was occupied by the English, Classics, History, French and German Departments which had been previously scattered but focused within Founders.
In 1984 they were joined by the Modern Languages department from Bedford College. In 1986 the History and Languages departments transferred to the McCrea building (and the Languages department subsequently moved to the International Building in 1998. The Departments of Social Work, Criminiology and Sociology and Media Arts moved in.