Page 12 - Project Birchwood, Melbourn

Experience

UoN Waterside Campus University of Bedfordshire- STEM Building and Bedford Teaching Building
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One of the key objectives is to create a substantially more efficient and agile that supports Another of our long standing client relationships is the University of Bedfordshire. We have
changes in the delivery of knowledge and student learning co-locating spaces for independent been supporting them since 2007 when we produced a Development Framework for their Park
learning, learning with peers and interactions between students and academic staff. The site has a Square Campus at Luton. Setting the pattern of development for the next 15 /20 years through
number of technical challenges including flood risk, traffic and service infrastructure, ecology and this framework we have delivered five new building projects and we are currently starting on
access that have informed the masterplan. The project has been progressed through extensive site with the sixth on a very challenging site within the centre of the campus, surrounded by
consultation with external stakeholders including the local planning authority, the County Council, operational facilities will be home to a new, flexible science and research building targeted at
Natural England, English Heritage, the Environment Agency, all major utility companies and land STEM subjects and designed to promote collaboration and partnership. This building has been
owners as well as local interest groups. MCW have been responsible for the overall masterplan designed for change, with a generic, adaptable floor plate. When it opens in 2019 it will have
and coordination with other disciplines as well as designing four of the new campus buildings and bioscience teaching on the upper floor, electronics and robotics on the ground floor, health related
two new bridges (road and pedestrian). The campus is due to open in 2018. programmes on the third (pharmaceutical) and computing science on the first floor.

Our success at Luton has resulted in extending the strategic thinking to the UoB’s campus in
Bedford and 2016 saw the completion of a new teaching and research facility and improved
campus space. Again, with an agenda aimed at improving connectivity within the academic
community, the scheme provides excellent value space with offices, seminar and research
space at upper levels and communal social space and lecture facilities on the ground floor. The
University is a demanding client with clear budgetary constraints and programme imperatives set
by academic year starts.