Pictured above: Neil Pountney
Aston University has announced that it is to forge ahead with
the second phase of its £215 million redevelopment scheme to
create some of the finest student accommodation in the world.
Just one week after the demolition of two high-rise tower blocks
- a move that has enabled the next phase of the regeneration
programme to go-ahead - the University has revealed that it has
awarded the contract for the work to a Balsall Common-based
company.
Providing high standard accommodation on campus for a total of
more than 3,000 students, the scheme is one of the biggest
regeneration projects in the Midlands, being scheduled for
completion in 2013.
Construction of the second phase is to be carried out by BAM
Construction Midlands, which secured the contract after a
competitive procurement process. The firm, which has a
well-established track record in the construction of university
facilities, will create new employment opportunities as a result of
the £45 million contract win, which will also safeguard the
future of its existing workforce.
Alan Charters, Director of Capital Development for Aston
University, said: "The Aston Student Villages (ASV) scheme is of
major importance to the University. It is the largest regeneration
project in its history and when completed will provide improved
student facilities which we believe will match the finest of
anywhere else in the world."
Advised by Emprima, the Solihull-based construction consultants
and project managers, the University, together with ASV, a
charitable trust formed to procure and then manage the facilities
for 37 years, has been developing its student village plans for the
40-acre campus for a number of years.
Emprima's Managing Director, Neil Pountney, said: "The decision
to proceed with Phase 2 is heartening news for the Midlands'
construction sector - especially as the industry generally is
facing its most challenging period ever."
The demolition of two 1970s accommodation towers in the centre
of the University campus was carried out on Sunday May 8 by DSM
Demolition Ltd, of Birmingham, which is also undertaking site
clearance, ground remediation and enabling work.
Replacing the high-rise blocks will be two blocks of
accommodation of between four and 18 storeys, providing 1,053
en-suite student bedrooms and shared facilities. Two residential
blocks, providing 1,300 high-specification en-suite rooms, were
constructed by Carillion as part of Phase 1.
The residential blocks for both phases of the development have
been designed with the environment in mind. They incorporate the
latest energy-efficient materials and systems, and also benefit
from cutting-edge, environmentally friendly features such as green
roofs, wind turbines, a Combined Heat and Power Plant and rainwater
recycling.
Working alongside ASV and its professional team, BAM
Construction Midlands will develop an appropriate 'design and
build' construction contract to create and commission the new high
quality student accommodation and carry out associated site
development. It is intended that construction operations will
commence immediately.
Richard Dakin, Director of BAM in the Midlands, said: "We will
bring to this project BAM's high standard of construction,
collaborative working and community engagement. It is very exciting
for us to be building something to enhance the life of this City's
students and doing this for such an important client as Aston
University."
Mr Dakin confirmed that Ian French, who recently completed the
highly regarded Severn Trent Centre in Coventry, would lead BAM's
on-site construction team. It will be working with Nottingham
architects, Lewis & Hickey.
For ASV on this phase, building engineering services and BREEAM
advisers are Couch Perry Wilkes of Birmingham and structural
engineering advisers, BJB Consulting of Wakefield. Financial
management is by the Birmingham office of Faithful +
Gould.