A Birmingham university’s £180 million move to the city centre continues apace with the construction of a second new building in Eastside.
The second phase of Birmingham City University’s new campus will see a 24,300 sq m block built to house its school of business, law and social science.
The new block was designed by Birmingham-based Associated Architects and will be built by city construction firm Willmott Dixon.
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September saw the opening of the university’s £61 million Bauhaus-inspired Parkside block as the new home to the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) and BCU’s School of Media.
This latest building, due to open in September 2015, will also have a new library, IT and student support facilities, the student’s union and a mock court room for legal students.
It will also be the base for BCU’s teacher training, English and professional training courses.
“Given students location in the city centre, their closeness to the real world professionals of Colmore Row, the civic centre and the judicial part of the city, that will be a great advantage for them and the organisations they aspire to engage,” a BCU spokesman said.
“That will work vice-versa too. There will also be an employer engagement centre at the new building with high spec meeting rooms.”
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This new facility will sit at the eastern end of the new Eastside City Park, and will mix the old with the new by incorporating the Grade II listed Eagle and Ball public house, which has been derelict for a number of years.
The first students are set to arrive in September 2015, helping to further boost the student community and create an even stronger ‘campus feel’.
Professor Cliff Allan, vice-chancellor of BCU, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Willmott Dixon once again and look forward to the next phase of our ambitious Eastside development – another significant investment which underlines the fact we are the ‘University for a greater Birmingham’.”
Peter Owen, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the Midlands, said: “As a local company we take seriously our responsibility to support growth and sustain jobs in Birmingham.
"Now we have been appointed for phase two of Birmingham City University’s city centre campus and we’ll work with local companies to ensure they benefit from this huge investment.”
The Parkside Building boasts state-of-the-art editing and animation suites, the country’s largest permanent green screen backdrop, a theatre, fashion workshops, a textiles area with computerised looms and printers and metal workshops.
The Millennium Point building, which is connected to Parkside, is already home to BCU’s faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment and the School of Acting.
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The BCU spokesman added: “The new building will be integrated into the environment of the new park.
“We hope to make use of the nearby canal and revitalise the heritage that has been there from virtually industrial times.
“Phase two will continue the blossoming of Eastside. We feel hopefully our investment is really helping to make a difference to Birmingham.”
The Facts
Area: Birmingham Eastside
Developer: Birmingham City University
Investment: £180 million (Parkside Building and phase 2)
Size: 24,300 sq ms
Building contractor: Willmott Dixon
Due: September 2015
- This article is part of the supplement produced by the Birmingham Post