£8.9m University of York project tops out with GRAHAM Construction

The development of University of York’s new £8.9m Spring Lane teaching building has reached a major milestone.

Main contractor GRAHAM Construction has now completed the structural framework for the building, which is set to open for the new academic year in September 2016.

Soon to become part of the Heslington West Campus, the three-storey Spring Lane building consists of a 350-person lecture theatre and 26 seminar rooms, each of which can house a minimum of 20 students.

There is a large social learning space on the second floor for informal solo and group student study sessions.

Architects Race Cottam Associates have designed the building to achieve BREEAM Very Good rating.

The University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Koen Lamberts said: “First-class teaching has always been one of the fundamental principles of this University and we strive continually to offer our students an excellent learning experience. We aim to provide an environment at York in which students can optimise their academic and personal potential and this exciting new teaching space will help us to achieve that.”

Along with Professor Lamberts, University of York Students’ Union (YUSU) President Ben Leatham, Head of Estates Development Gary Ashmore, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Students Professor John Robinson, Estates Development Project Manager Sarah Bacsich and senior staff from GRAHAM Construction, all attended the topping out ceremony.

Gary Hughes, GRAHAM North of England regional director, said: “This will add another first-class facility to the University of York’s expanding portfolio, and demonstrates its commitment to providing students with the best possible learning experience.

“GRAHAM is a specialist in the education sector and we work with some of the UK’s largest and most prestigious universities, providing a wide range of campus and accommodation new build and refurbishment projects.

“This includes the £81m Peel Park Campus in Salford – which is one of the largest student accommodation developments in Europe – the award-winning Heart of the Campus development for Sheffield Hallam University, and more than £20m of refurbishment and modernisation works for the University of Manchester.”

Since 2000, the University of York has embarked on an ambitious programme of expansion and renewal to create a 21st century campus, with hundreds of millions of pounds invested in new facilities and innovative refurbishment programmes.

This includes several new buildings on the original Heslington West Campus and a £750m campus extension at Heslington East.