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BDP’s engineers have been appointed by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) to design the £30m Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC). SimpsonHaugh and Partners are architect for the scheme in collaboration with Reiach and Hall Architects.
UCLan Director of Facilities Management Paul Morris said: “The quality of all the bids was high and reflects the level of interest in our exciting and ambitious plans to create a facility that will act as a national centre of excellence for advanced engineering teaching, research and knowledge exchange with industry. We are looking forward to working with BDP, SimpsonHaugh and Reiach and Hall to bring our plans to fruition.”
Engineering director Phil Simcock said: “We are delighted to be involved with this exciting project to develop a new Engineering Innovation Centre for UCLan. BDP has a long history with UCLan, having worked together on projects in the past, and it is great to now have the opportunity to work together again at the start of their ambitious new masterplan.
BDP was founded in Preston over 50 years ago by Sir George Grenfell Baines who studied at the University. This project is therefore important to the BDP team and we look forward to developing a state-of-the-art, sustainable engineering facility that we can all be proud of.”
The UCLan EIC will capitalise on the location of the university at the centre of one of the most intensive engineering and manufacturing areas in the UK to create an internationally competitive facility that will bring together the region’s expertise from academia and industry. It will be equipped to the highest standard with technology demonstration areas and specialist work areas to create an integrated space for teaching, research and knowledge exchange.
The project is the first stage of a £200m development that will transform the Preston campus over the next 10 to 15 years. The vision is to create a sustainable campus to enhance the experience for all those visiting the university and integrate it seamlessly with the rest of the city.
Construction of the UCLan EIC will begin in early 2016 and is due to complete by 2018.