Enabling works have commenced for the University of Warwick’s £700 million campus redevelopment.
- O’Brien Contractors spearhead the infrastructure works for a new science and engineering facility.
- The facility will host the university’s chemistry, physics, and engineering departments.
- A new road junction, utility provisions, and drainage system are included in the project.
- The redevelopment focuses on significant improvements in STEM education and research environments.
Enabling works marking the start of a substantial £700 million redevelopment at the University of Warwick have begun. O’Brien Contractors are leading the initial phase of this ambitious project, focusing on constructing the infrastructure that will support a new science and engineering facility. This building will house various learning and research opportunities alongside spaces for public engagement and socialising, ultimately becoming the new home for the university’s chemistry and physics departments, as well as the school of engineering.
The construction phase includes creating building platforms, erecting retaining walls, and setting up new car parking facilities for the staff and students. A new road junction is also planned, which requires the installation of utility provisions and the construction of a pumping station and drainage system to be completed ahead of the project’s scheduled handover next summer.
This initiative, dubbed the ‘Connect Programme’, signifies the largest single investment in the university’s facilities since its founding in 1965. The focus is on strengthening the university’s offerings in social sciences and STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—education. The new science and engineering building is part of the STEM Connect element, aiming to enhance the university’s role as a leading institution in these fields.
Lance Gudger, director at O’Brien Contractors, emphasised the project’s importance, noting the impact on the Midlands and the UK’s STEM sector: “This is a hugely significant project for The University of Warwick, the Midlands as a whole, and the UK’s STEM sector.” He highlighted the positive effects on local communities through job creation and social value. Mark Williams, academic director for the STEM Connect programme, added that substantial progress is already visible on site, preparing for the next development stage.
The University of Warwick’s redevelopment is set to significantly enhance educational and research facilities in STEM fields.
