Work starts on £10 million Wolverhampton University building
Work has now started on the £10.1 million block of offices and research units at the University of Wolverhampton.
The Science, Technology and Prototyping Centre is being built on land at the University of Wolverhampton Science Park.
The Groundbreaking Ceremony was attended by Professor Ian Oakes, university deputy vice-chancellor; Professor Geoff Layer, vice-chancellor; Ninder Johal, Black Country Chamber president and LEP board member; Nigel Babb, commercial director, Science Park; Councillor John Reynolds, cabinet member for city economy, Wolverhampton City Council and Tim Walker, construction director, Clegg Construction Ltd.
The three-storey, 70ft tall block will have 32,000 sq ft of managed office space, together with some shared workspace and a laboratory and testing space for prototypes, as well as a café and space for parking.
It will provide a destination for science-based businesses that is not currently available in the Black Country.
The project has been funded through a £4.8m grant from the Growth Deal to the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, with the remaining £5.3m coming from the University of Wolverhampton.
Designed by the Fairhurst Design Group and built by Clegg Construction, the new centre will offer unrivalled specialist space to scientific-based businesses wanting to develop and enhance their research and development activities.
Deputy vice-chancellor Professor Ian Oakes, said: "This exciting new development will be the only facility of its type in the Black Country and will build on the University's investment in science and engineering in the last two years.
"We already have around 80 businesses based at the Science Park and this new centre will attract another 30 science and technology-based companies right to the heart of Wolverhampton. It is a huge opportunity for the city and the university.
"We want to work with these businesses to help them grow and develop new products and processes and also give our students the chance for placements and graduate jobs.
"Job creation is a huge priority for the city.
"The Science, Technology and Prototyping Centre will attract new businesses bringing with them high-value jobs for the area and for graduates." The centre is due to be fully operational by the summer of 2017.
The scheme includes 162 new car parking spaces,which will take parking to 404. There will also be a revised layout to the existing car park and 28 extra bicycle parking spaces.
