Morgan Sindall Construction hands over £18 million business school
A four-storey, 34,000 square foot 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 £18 million 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, which it has held a place on since 2011.
In keeping with its commitment to the framework, Morgan Sindall Construction has routed almost 80 per cent of the project spend through skilled local suppliers in the region.
The new wing of the business school comprises Grade-A office and teaching space, featuring extensive glazed partitions, triple height ceiling spaces and a spacious communal atrium.
Previously, the business school’s 103 staff members had been split across five separate buildings. The new facilities allow them to co-locate and, crucially, are seen as key to attracting and retaining the top-rated academics from around the world.
The university house expansion is the second flagship project Morgan Sindall Construction has delivered for the university in as many years. It follows completion of the multi-award winning Collaborative Teaching Laboratory – another key development in the institution’s strategy to invest more than £600 million to transform its campus between 2016 – 2021 for the benefit of students, staff, and the local community.
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.
John Egerton, operations director at Mace, added: The business school expansion has been a significant project for the University of Birmingham and Morgan Sindall Construction approached it with professionalism from the start.
“Its team has done an exceptional job of delivering a high-quality product within the constraints of a difficult site, whilst keeping the level of disruption to the operations of the university to an absolute minimum.
“As with all projects, University House came with its challenges, however Morgan Sindall Construction’s collaborative approach to overcoming the impact of these made the difference.
- For more information about this news release please contact Jonathan Daly or Helena Young at Influential on 0161 935 8474 or email daly@thisisinfluential.com