£5m project begins to develop university research facility

Robertson Construction will undertake internal remodelling and create a new façade.

The 29,600 sq ft scheme will provide a new location for scientists and engineers researching topics as diverse as digital manufacturing, virtual reality, internet of things (IoT), digital forensics, fluid sciences and electric vehicles.

It will also include an innovative “Smart House” – a two-storey domestic dwelling inside a laboratory in which research and development work will take place on a range of 21st century topics such as: smart energy technologies; domestic environmental monitoring; new interfaces for home entertainment systems; and robotics for assisted living.

The building will also feature the installation of 500 solar panels on its roof as part of the university’s 10 Point Plan to achieving Carbon Neutral status.

Paul Turner, managing director at Robertson Construction – Yorkshire and East Midlands, said: “We are proud to be delivering a new facility for the University of Huddersfield which will bring this building in line with the powerful research work undertaken within it.”

“As a responsible business, we share the same goals as the university in relation to carbon reduction across our projects and we are delighted to be installing the solar panels as part of this project which will help to reduce the university’s conventional energy consumption from the National Grid.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Thornton, added: “This is a major project for us, enhancing our research capability in important areas in engineering where we already have world-leading teams.

“It is also an important investment in our plans to become carbon neutral, so we are delighted to be working alongside Robertson Construction.”

The project is expected to be completed and fully commissioned in readiness for use by September 2021.