Work starts on second phase of Birmingham City University’s city centre campus
THE second phase of work on Birmingham City University’s new City Centre Campus project has officially begun.
University representatives were joined by Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore for a ceremony at the Eastside site to officially mark the start of work.
The second phase of the City Centre Campus project will see BCU team up with Birmingham-based Willmott Dixon to build the 24,300m² facility, which will provide a student support hub as well as a new library, teaching and IT space, plus other student-facing facilities.
This latest phase builds on the university’s Phase One project, which saw the construction of The Parkside Building – a brand new creative and media hub linked to the existing provision based in Millennium Point. This will open to students next month.
Both phases of work are part of the university’s £180m investment to transform its estate and create one of the best learning experiences in the sector.
Professor Cliff Allan, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Willmott Dixon once again and look forward to the next phase of our ambitious Eastside development – another significant investment which underlines the fact we are the ‘University for a Greater Birmingham’.”
Peter Owen, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the Midlands, said: “As a local company we take seriously our responsibility to support growth and sustain jobs in Birmingham. Now we have been appointed for phase two of Birmingham City University’s City Centre Campus and we’ll work with local companies to ensure they benefit from this huge investment.”
In addition to the turf-cutting ceremony, a time capsule was also buried containing a range of university material, including messages from staff and students for the ‘Class of 2063’ – the year when the capsule is expected to be re-opened.
