UCLan starts race for £32m student centre

7 June 2018 10:30 Comments (0)

UCLan has begun its search for a contractor to build its flagship 78,500 sq ft student centre in Preston, designed by architect HawkinsBrown.

The student centre will act as a gateway to the university from the city centre, and also features a 90,000 sq ft public square to the front. The building will include a reception area, learning spaces and a student wellbeing support centre over four storeys.

UCLan is expecting to shortlist three contractors for the job ahead of a start on site in early 2019, with completion earmarked for summer 2020 ahead of the 2020/2021 academic year.

Plans were given the go-ahead by Preston’s planning committee in January this year, and HawkinsBrown was picked as architect following an international RIBA competition last year.

The project team also includes BDP as planner and engineer; Aecom as project manager; Plinke as landscape architect, and Planit-IE on streetscape and public realm.

Other projects currently under way at UCLan include a £30m engineering innovation centre, which is being built by contractor Bam ahead of completion in early 2019.