BAM appointed to build £17m research centre

THE University of Warwick has appointed BAM Construction to build its new £17m Physics and Chemistry Research Laboratory.

The university already has significant research plans for the four-storey development that will house a world class microscopy facility and will provide accommodation for the Warwick Centre for Analytical Science.

The centre will become a national and international hub for research and training in the analytical sciences, enhancing Warwick’s international research reputation.

It will also play a part in helping the university double its already significant research student numbers and place the university among the world’s top 50 research institutions by 2015.

Based in Balsall Common, BAM will design and construct the 4,795 sqm structure. The firm recently constructed Birmingham’s new Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College.

Richard Dakin, BAM’s director in the Midlands, said: “Both the University of Warwick and this research project are prestigious, so it is clearly excellent news for BAM.

“It shows how well regarded we are in the Midlands and in the education sector. These will be genuinely world class facilities.”
 
BAM, which is now on-site, has appointed Colin Lawrence as project manager. He recently delivered the Archbishop Grimshaw School in neighbouring Solihull.

Mr Lawrence said one interesting aspect of the project was the need for anti-vibration foundations because of the sensitive nature of the equipment used in the laboratory.

Where possible, the firm will use local suppliers and it estimates that 150 jobs will be created during the construction project, which is set to be completed in autumn 2011.

Architects for the project are BMJ; Arup is the structural engineer with Couch Perry Wilkes acting as M&E consultants.