Construction begins on £16m robotics building

Morgan Sindall Construction has started work at a major new robotics building which forms part of a £2.5bn regeneration masterplan. The £16m University of Salford’s North of England Robotics Innovation Centre is part of the 240-acre Crescent scheme,The scheme is being run by the University of Salford, Salford City Council and development partner, The English Cities Fund.The fund is a strategic joint venture between Muse Developments, Legal & General and Homes England aimed at driving economic and social prosperity. The facility is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).It will enable the university’s robotics and automation specialists to expand their work with SMEs around the country to provide solution development, design, testing and validation of digital innovation.A groundbreaking event to mark the start of work was attended by representatives of Morgan Sindall Construction and the University of Salford.Disciplines covered by the 22,580 sq ft NERIC building will include robotics for intelligent infrastructure, digital automation and supply chain improvement, and health, wellbeing and integrated care technologies.The contractor is also on site delivering the new £65m Science, Engineering and Environmental Building (SEE Building) for the University. The facility will include a teaching space for robotics.Earlier this year, Morgan Sindall Construction also launched its second Knowledge Quad facility within its work at the SEE Building. The Knowledge Quad is a training and learning facility located within a live Morgan Sindall Construction site.