Work on a new teaching building at the University has officially started this week – celebrated with a traditional turf cutting ceremony.
The new East Building will be constructed on existing clay tennis courts to the north of the Sports Training Village at the University’s Claverton Campus. It will accommodate a 350 seat lecture theatre, a floor of general teaching accommodation and two floors of administrative space.
The University plans to use the new building as ‘decant space’ for departments who will be relocated to enable refurbishment of existing accommodation on the University’s Parade.
The main contractor, Cowlin, has started work on site with a completion due in early 2011. Following University fit out the building is expected to be ready for occupation by Easter 2011. The first occupiers of the building will be the Department of Computer Science.
The two clay tennis courts where the new building will be located will be relocated to fields south of the East car park. This work will be undertaken by a separate specialist contractor this autumn, with the courts due to be completed in early 2010.
The new East building is already award winning – having been given a BREEAM “Excellent” rating for the building design. The award is made by the Building Research Establishment’s BREEAM Environmental Award Scheme.
The building’s green credentials include: use of sustainable building products and materials; sustainable drainage techniques; measures to improve the ecology of the site and reduce external light spillage; use of low energy systems; and good links to public transport and community facilities.
Martyn Whalley, Director of Estates at the University, said: “We are delighted that the construction phase of this project is now underway to create a much needed additional teaching space. The building incorporates many features to minimise CO2 emissions.
“It will enable us to ‘decant’ staff from their current office space around the Parade allowing us to carry out much needed refurbishment of those buildings.”
Neil Sherreard, Cowlin Divisional Managing Director, said: “We have a long standing and good working relationship with the University, having undertaken a number of prestigious schemes on campus, and are delighted to partner with them again in delivering this new state-of-the-art facility.”
The first ’sod of turf’ was cut at the ceremony today (Wednesday 23 September) by Professor James Davenport, currently Acting Head of Department of Computer Science. He was joined by colleagues from the University, representatives from Cowlin, and members of the design team including Tim Harris, the Project Manager from King Sturge LLP in Bristol.