£18m business school completes

A four-storey, 34,000 sq ft extension to the University of Birmingham’s internationally-acclaimed business school has been handed over by Morgan Sindall Construction.

The main contractor has built an £18m annexe to the Grade II-listed University House, on Edgbaston Park Road; delivering the project in partnership with consultancy firm Acivico, through the Constructing West Midlands (CWM) framework.

The new wing of the business school comprises Grade-A office and teaching space, featuring glazed partitions, triple height ceiling spaces and a communal atrium.

Previously, the business school’s 103 staff members had been split across five separate buildings.

Dave Kelly, CWM framework director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “Grade A facilities are crucial to universities as they compete on an international stage, to attract both students and academic staff.
“Renovated and expanded, University House is a great example of the very best in design. It sympathetically adds inspiring modern features to an important heritage asset.

“The university was under no obligation to procure the project with anything other than cost in mind. But, in using the CWM framework, they’ve boosted the West Midlands economy, ensuring almost £15 million has been routed through local businesses. This project increases Morgan Sindall Construction’s total to more than £511 million spent with West Midlands SMEs over the past seven years through the framework – a figure we’re incredibly proud of.”

Peter Cochrane, deputy director of estates (development), at the University of Birmingham, said: “Morgan Sindall Construction has worked closely with the design team to produce a building of real quality which sits appropriately in the context of the original listed building. The extension is a great addition to the university’s estate.”

The architect involved in the scheme was Glancy Nicholls. Mace was the project manager.