The University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) flagship Masterplan development reached a major milestone as construction of the £60million Student Centre and Civic Square reached its highest point.
Representatives from UCLan and contractor Bowmer + Kirkland celebrated the milestone with a topping out ceremony on the roof of the new Student Centre. Meanwhile, a range of new images from the interior of the construction have been released, showing outstanding design features including the wooden staircase and cross laminated timber flooring.
The new Student Centre’s exterior is made up of 450 tonnes of primed steel - 1,520 pieces of steel in all – and reaches 16.5 metres in height.
The steel framed centre will accommodate all UCLan student services from 2021, including a new reception area, informal learning spaces, a student wellbeing centre, while the Civic Square will provide an outdoor events space for city and community use.
Once completed, the development is also planned to create a greener environment on the previous Adelphi roundabout for students, staff and residents to enjoy, with over 300 new trees being planted and a 50,000-strong bee colony on the roof of the Student Centre.
Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire, said: “A lot of staff, students and residents won’t have been able to spend time on campus recently to see the Student Centre construction rise. But we’ve been able to work safely throughout the lockdown so that the Student Centre can be open and ready to support students from next year.
“In addition to the Student Centre construction, the highways work by Balfour Beatty continues to progress, and visitors to the site around the Adelphi roundabout can start to see the Masterplan becoming a reality.”
Bowmer + Kirkland Regional Director Neil Brook said: “We are delighted with the progress we have made, particularly during the challenges faced due to Covid-19.
“The Student Centre is the pinnacle of UCLan’s Masterplan development and we are honoured to be playing our part in that success.”
AECOM Project Director David Maiden added: “It’s fantastic to reach this milestone, particularly in the current restricted climate.
“B+K has very carefully considered and applied the guidance from the Government and the Construction Leadership Councils for operating construction sites and their commitment to keep the project moving has been exemplary.
“We very much look forward to completion next year and to the facility having a significantly positive impact on the Student Experience at UCLan.”
The £200million Masterplan development also includes previously completed buildings of two new student spaces, the OASIS multi-faith centre and the £35 million Engineering Innovation Centre on Corporation Street.
