Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, today announces that it has been selected by the University of Reading to deliver its new £33 million Health and Life Sciences building. The contract has been awarded through the University’s £250 million building framework.
Balfour Beatty will be responsible for the construction of the 7,500 square metre state-of-the-art teaching and research facility, which on completion will form an integral part of the University’s ten-year campus regeneration programme.
Balfour Beatty has worked in collaboration with the University of Reading through its building framework since July 2015. Early contractor engagement enabled Balfour Beatty to fully participate in the design proposal to provide the most cost-effective solution.
The company will utilise Building Information Modelling (BIM) to generate and manage vital information about the building and ultimately make the process more efficient at every stage of the project lifecycle.
Jonathan Winter, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s regional business in the South of England, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to construct the new Health & Life Sciences building which is another example of the significant benefits a collaborative relationship can deliver.
“Our long-standing relationship with the University of Reading, coupled with our extensive experience in delivering higher education projects, supports our mutual goal of providing a first class facility and improved learning experience for more than 17,000 students.”
Works are due to commence this month and at construction peak, the project will employ a workforce of over 150, including a number of apprenticeship positions and work placement opportunities.
ENDS
Media enquiries to:
Vivienne Dunn
Balfour Beatty
+44 (0)207 963 2150
vivienne.dunn@balfourbeatty.com
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All non-media related enquiries should be directed to +44 (0)20 7216 6800 or info@balfourbeatty.com
Notes to editors:
- Balfour Beatty (balfourbeatty.com) is a leading international infrastructure group. With 30,000 employees, we provide innovative and efficient infrastructure that underpins our daily lives, supports communities and enables economic growth. We finance, develop, build and maintain complex infrastructure such as transportation, power and utility systems, social and commercial buildings.
- Our main geographies are the UK, US and Far East. Over the last 100 years we have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world including the London Olympics’ Aquatic Centre, Hong Kong’s first Zero Carbon building, the National Museum of the Marine Corps in the US and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
- Balfour Beatty is a leading provider of higher education infrastructure in the UK and US. Working with various customers, communities and supply chain partners, we design, finance, develop, build and manage the facilities that enhance the student experience.
- In the UK, our current portfolio of higher education projects includes the £287m Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) for the University of Manchester, representing one of the largest capital developments undertaken by a UK higher education institution; the £19m scheme to renovate and extend The University of Bristol’s Grade II listed School of Mathematics building and the £197m East Slope accommodation project on behalf of The University of Sussex, for which Balfour Beatty has invested equity of almost £23m, signifying the largest UK wrapped inflation linked bond in recent times.
