University of York’s £27m expansion gets underway

THE University of York is investing in a major expansion programme which will see a three-storey development built on its east campus.

Interserve has won the £17m contract to design and build contract for the site which will be named the Piazza Learning Centre.

The site, which will have two laboratories, a 350-seat auditorium, a 100-seat lecture theatre and offices across 732,000 sq ft of space, will cost around £27m altogether.

It will be the home of the University’s International Pathway College, a joint venture with the University of Kaplan, preparing international students to develop within the college.

Dr Matthew Perry, director of the International Pathway College (IPC), said: “This will be a fantastic teaching and learning space for staff and students and is indicative of the scale of ambition at the University of York and our confidence in the IPC’s ability to attract students from all over the world. We’re already looking forward to moving in.”

Work on site has now begun, with project completion due in November 2017.

John Gittins, divisional director at Interserve, said: “We are looking forward to further strengthening our relationship with the University of York as it continues to both expand and renew its facilities. At Interserve we are committed to investing in the communities in which we work and we will be continuing to engage with the local supply chain as well as creating new job opportunities for local people.”