Morgan Sindall wins multi-million university contract

CONSTRUCTION and infrastructure company, Morgan Sindall has been appointed to build a new Collaborative Teaching Laboratory (CTL) for the University of Birmingham.

The multi-million facility will be based at the university’s main Edgbaston campus.

The new building will assist with the teaching of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects and will also enable enhanced collaborative and interdisciplinary training and engagement.

The CTL will include high-specification equipment and modern technologies to support informal inquiry and independent learning, serving the needs of a diverse community.

It will also feature dry, wet and computer laboratories for use by different student groups simultaneously along with a public engagement space allowing the university to showcase science and STEM subjects to a wider audience.

Trevor Payne, Director of Estates at the University of Birmingham said: “The Collaborative Teaching Laboratory is a major project for the University as we continue to develop and enhance the teaching experience here.

“This building will enable us to work in new and different ways. Our students are the next generation of world-changers and as such it is key for us to nurture this in their working environments.

“Much of the equipment that they use will be closer to what they will encounter in industry and we know that by learning in this new, state-of-the-art environment, we can train the very best graduates ready to integrate into professional teams.”

The two-storey 72,120 sq ft building, which received planning consent in September, takes the shape of a robust brick structure, with variation in materials and form to represent three different internal environments of the laboratories.

The front of the building is characterised by large angled brise-soleil made from gold anodised aluminium which projects over the main entrance.

Richard Fielding, Morgan Sindall’s area director for the West Midlands, said: “We have a very strong and demonstrable capability in the education sector and we’d like to welcome the University of Birmingham as our latest customer.

“This appointment consolidates our position within this important sector. This is a hugely important building for the region’s premier higher educational establishment and we are very much looking forward to delivering the building.”

Work is scheduled to begin in January with the building opening by 2019. The building’s architect is Sheppard Robson.