Contractor appointed to build £14 million research centre

Delivered by Sheffield Hallam University in partnership with Legacy Park Ltd, the AWRC is set to become the most advanced research and development centre for health and physical activity in the world. The key facility is supported by UK Government, who have committed £14 million of funding to the project.

Kelvin Pollard, Construction Director for BAM, said: ‘This scheme renews our successful partnership with the University. BAM's strength in the higher education market is evident across our record in Yorkshire. We've also got a long-term commitment in Sheffield where we have contributed a lot to the City's skyline and built environment. This fascinating new scheme will demand many skills from the construction team, and a very close understanding between ourselves, the University and all of the partners.  We are very excited to bring our expertise to its creation, and as ever, will use the opportunity of the build itself to add something back for the community around it.’

Designed by HLM Architects, the Centre will have facilities such as; a 7.5m high indoor laboratory, 3rd generation pitch with cameras and tracking instruments, 3D biomechanical and gait analysis and scanning, a manufacturing workshop, MRI, CT, ultrasound, body composition measurement and physiological testing and a technology demonstration hub.

The primary aim of the AWRC is to create innovations that will 'improve the health of the nation', tackling key issues such as static levels of physical activity, rising obesity and mental health whilst also attracting new jobs and investment to the region. It will feature indoor and outdoor facilities for 70 researchers to carry out world-leading research on health and physical activity in collaboration with the private sector. It will form a key part of the City Region's Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) - a 2,000 acre centre of excellence for innovation-led research and industrial collaboration. 

The AWRC will undertake research focused upon taking services and products from concept to market, using the intellectual property, products and knowledge developed in the centre to generate both wealth and employment opportunities.

Mark Swales, director of estates and facilities at Sheffield Hallam University, said: ‘We are delighted to confirm BAM as our contractor to build what promises to be an impressive building. Our estate portfolio already provides high-quality teaching and learning spaces for our staff and students and the AWRC will add to this and allow us to conduct world-leading research that will improve the health of populations across the globe.’

BAM is currently behind the Sheffield Retail Quarter and West Mercia School both in Sheffield. It handed over Sheffield UTC 2 last year, and in recent years has also created Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre, Don Valley Hub, As well as primary schools, fire stations, and an industrial scheme for Rolls Royce. It also refurbished City Hall, among many other schemes in the City. For Sheffield Hallam, BAM built the ground breaking Furnival Building for its Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Science, which was the most sustainable building in Sheffield at the time.

More: www.shu.ac.uk/research/specialisms/advanced-wellbeing-research-centre

Further information: Mark Slattery, Press and Media Manager, BAM Construct UK Ltd, 01442 238415.