Willmott Dixon Secures £20m University of Warwick Contract

Willmott Dixon’s role enhancing and expanding universities continues with a scheme to create a central hub at the University of Warwick.

The £20mn contract was procured through Scape Group’s National Major Works framework, one of six frameworks offered by Scape, the new Teaching and Learning Building is the start of a comprehensive redevelopment of the university’s central campus and is being delivered to mark its 50th anniversary this year.

It’s the latest major project for Willmott Dixon in the higher education sector, following similar facilities for universities that include Kent, Cambridge, Bournemouth, Birmingham City, West London and Brighton with a combined value of over £250mn.

The Teaching and Learning Building will see Willmott Dixon provide the University of Warwick with a facility that has 250 and 500 seat lecture theatres alongside new teaching and seminar space plus social and network areas – all accessible by faculties across the university.

Peter Owen, managing director at Willmott Dixon in the Midlands commented on the contract.

‘Our recent experience in higher education includes the new Curzon Building at Birmingham City University and we’ll be using our experience of working in live environments to ensure we create a centrepiece for Warwick that will provide an excellent learning environment for many generations to come. This will deliver a thriving new central facility for staff and students as well as a striking building architecturally that will be memorable for all visitors.’

Willmott Dixon is working with Berman Guedes Stretton, architect, and Pick Everard, as project manager. Duncan Green, managing partner at Pick Everard, said: ‘Under the Scape framework, we will deliver project management, quantity surveying and CDM co-ordination services for what is going to be a hugely important addition to the University of Warwick Campus’

The Teaching and Learning Building will be complete in July 2016. Pro Vice Chancellor for teaching and learning at the University of Warwick, Christina Hughes added: ‘Warwick is committed to delivering the highest quality educational experience for all our students. Our new teaching and learning building, which has been co-designed with our students and staff, will further enhance that experience through its innovative design and capabilities.’