Key milestone reached in £100m uni scheme

A key milestone has been reached in the University of Wolverhampton’s £100m investment in a new construction excellence campus on the site of the former Springfield brewery.Contractor ISG has now reached the highest point of the new School of Architecture and Built Environment which was designed by Birmingham-based Associated Architects. An official topping out ceremony was held at the highest point of the building in front of the restored iconic clock tower which was built in 1922 and survived a fire which destroyed most of the former building in 2004.The 85,000 sq ft build has used a mix of pre-cast white concrete, bronze metal cladding and glazing over three floors.The new School of Architecture and Built Environment will offer specialist teaching and social learning spaces, design studios, specialist labs, multi-disciplinary workshops, lecture theatre, café, offices, meeting rooms, ICT rooms and a top floor super studio with double height ceilings.It will provide space for nearly 1,100 existing students and 65 staff, with the number of students projected to grow over time to 1,600.The school will specialise in supporting skills in architecture, construction, civil engineering, building control, building services, facilities management, quantity surveying, planning, construction management, housing and commercial.The new school is due to open in September 2020.