A state-of-the-art veterinary school designed to be fully accessible is under construction for the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston.
Morgan Sindall Construction’s (MSC) North West team is delivering the project; enabling works began earlier this month.
The project involves the partial refurbishment of a current building, and the creation of a new four-storey structure on the Preston campus. Once complete, the 50,000 sq ft school will support the education of students studying a range of undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary medicine and animal science courses.
The new building will be built to universal accessibility standards to support students with a range of learning needs.
Training amenities will include high-specification anatomical skills laboratories, simulated operating theatres, diagnostic suites, microscopy labs, dental rooms, and so-called immersive teaching facilities.
As part of the project, elements of the already existing Greenbank Building will be refurbished to include a dedicated area for kennels, the installation of new simulated consultation rooms, and a physiotherapy suite.
Professor Graham Baldwin, the university’s vice chancellor, said: “It is fantastic to see spades in the ground and building work start on creating our technologically advanced School of Veterinary Medicine.
“As Lancashire’s only vet school, it will play a major role in developing the veterinary practitioners and leaders of the future and supporting economic growth in the North.
“Morgan Sindall has a very impressive track record of delivering inspirational and attractive learning environments at universities across the country, so we are looking forward to working together.”
The school has a strong ‘one health’ ethos, along with sustainability goals. These are being incorporated into the project, with an ambition for the new development to qualify for a BREEAM Excellent rating.
Morgan Sindall is bringing its Intelligent Solutions approach to the realisation of these aims, and indeed the delivery of the project. The approach involves the use of digital design tools, collaboration with its supply chain, and the use of modern methods of construction.
Notably, in the vet school project, this approach includes the use of delta beams in the newbuild structural frame. According to MSC, this will “significantly reduce” embodied carbon with the building, as well as accelerate the project’s delivery.
Mod cons
Richard Potts, MSC’s area director, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with UCLan through the new veterinary school project.
“Our team has been working collaboratively with UCLan through the pre-construction stage to develop intelligent solutions that will enhance the learning environment and enable the university to be more sustainable.
“We are thrilled to be contributing to economic growth and the advancement of veterinary practitioners within Lancashire, as well as helping to make the university and its community an increasingly attractive place to live, work and study.”
Dr Heather Bacon OBE, dean of UCLan’s School of Veterinary Medicine, said it was a “huge step forward” for the school.
“Creating an accessible, sustainable and state-of-the-art building, which will house world-class clinical simulation and teaching spaces, will allow us to deliver innovative and practically-relevant teaching to a diverse community of students,” she added.
“I’m very excited to see the building’s progress, and it will be incredible to call somewhere a home on campus. The architecture, as well as proximity to the central campus, is brilliant, and I can’t wait to use the state-of-the-art facilities.”
Completion of the project is anticipated in the first quarter of 2025.
Main image: (L-R) UCLan’s Professor Graham Baldwin and Morgan Sindall’s Richard Potts
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