A Derbyshire building contractor has completed a £13 million project to create science laboratories at a UK university.
G F Tomlinson, based at Little Eaton, near Derby, started work on the Central Science Laboratories (CSL) development at Keele University back in August 2017 – bringing a new 57,000 sq ft, four-storey building to the campus.
The contract, which involved adding a 57,000 sq ft, four storey building to the campus, was awarded to the firm as part of the university’s £42 million overall investment into its Faculty of Natural Sciences’ facilities.
The building will be used by students on courses including geography, geology, forensic science and astrophysics.
Inside the CSL building are new chemistry and pharmacy wet laboratories and flexible dry laboratories for courses in geography, geology, environment, forensic science and life sciences; laboratories for physics and astrophysics; and IT labs for subjects including mathematics and computer science.
There are also breakout social learning spaces, open plan teaching and research areas, and IT rooms – with the building aiming to bring together practical teaching and group working among undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as those studying on a foundation year.
Andy Sewards, managing director of G F Tomlinson, said: “We are very pleased that works have now completed on the Central Science Laboratories at Keele University – further enhancing the establishment’s reputation and improving the learning experiences of its students.
“There is already excitement for the building to open, and we are positive it will vastly benefit the innovative research that already takes place at the university.”
G F Tomlinson, which carries out work in education, commercial and residential sectors, has also announced that it has a forward pipeline of works of circa £90 million.
It has recently remodelled the business to take into account “recent changes in the economy”.
G F Tomlinson is now looking towards 2020 with a greater emphasis on the more buoyant markets of residential, facilities management and the logistics sector.
Mr Sewards said: “Having been established for over 125 years, we have a tremendous breadth of experience throughout the industry, with forward-thinking values to back this up.
“We are now at a point in time where we are re-modelling the business to look ahead to the future, embracing new ideas to capitalise more on the buoyant sectors in the marketplace.
“This approach will ensure the company is well placed, providing greater opportunities for continued success for many years to come.”
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