Salford University’s £65m science block completed

Original Source: Completion for Salford Uni’s £65m science block

The 167,000-square-foot Science, Engineering, and Environment (SEE) Building is part of the Salford Crescent and University District designs.

The four-story structure houses research and teaching labs for physics, electronics, composites, chemical vapour deposition, and other disciplines at Salford.

It also has a wind tunnel, originally at the Salford Innovation Research Centre (SIRC), high-spec laser facilities, and 154 roof-mounted solar panels.

The £65m project received approval in March 2020, and contractors worked on site during the pandemic. After completion, the facility will welcome students and researchers for the next academic year.

The SEE Building is on Peel Park Campus near the New Adelphi building and the university’s spiritual centre. Before construction, the Horlock and Constantine student housing blocks had been demolished.

The Schools of Computing, Science, and Engineering, the School of the Built Environment, and the School of Environmental Life Sciences have been combined into the School of Science, Engineering, and Environment.

SEE is part of the University of Salford’s masterplan to modernise the campus and develop a new city district to enable future expansion and investment.

It’s part of Salford City Council’s Salford Crescent and University District masterplan, which maps opportunities for 1m sq ft of educational floorspace, 6m sq ft of commercial uses focused on industrial growth sectors, 2m sq ft of public realm, landscaped routes and cycleways, and 2,500 homes and apartments.

The team also included Faithful + Gould, Sheppard Robson, and Arup. Morgan Sindall is also creating the University’s Robotics Innovation Centre.

Shaun Jones, Greater Manchester regional director of Morgan Sindall Construction, said the SEE Building will help future generations and the local area economically.

“We’re thrilled to hand over the new building on schedule. It will house engineering, environmental, and scientific professionals and students. It’s been a pleasure to collaborate with the University of Salford, and we look forward to continuing our cooperation at NERIC. “

The director of estates and facilities at the University of Salford remarked, “We’re thrilled to open the new SEE Building.” It’s a smart, sustainable new-build that’s 100% electric.

Because the team adapted each floor to varied needs, the university now has a highly adaptable environment.

The adaptable, all-electric building delivers on the design’s sustainability aims, said Sheppard Robson partner Alex Solk.

“Our design weaves together specialty facilities and nimble working places.” It’s exciting to see the structure take shape.