Work underway on £39m sport and exercise science facility at Newcastle University

Work is about to get underway on Newcastle University’s new £39m teaching and learning facility.

The building, located at the Richardson Road site, will span 9,000m2 across six storeys and be used by the university’s Sport and Exercise Science and Human Nutrition programmes and its Schools of Psychology and Medical Education.

The development will sit alongside the new Park View Student Village and house a lecture theatre for 300 students, social learning areas, seminar space, clinical suites and academic and postgraduate offices.

The project’s design team is led by GSSArchitecture.

To mark the start of construction, a groundbreaking ceremony held on site brought together representatives of Newcastle University, building company Clugston Construction and law firm Muckle LLP.

Emma Stevenson, professor of Sport and Exercise Science at Newcastle University, said: “The groundbreaking was an excellent occasion to celebrate the partnership that is bringing this exciting new project to life.

“It is part of Newcastle University’s £500m investment in quality facilities that deliver an outstanding student experience and an excellent environment for our students’ learning, teaching and research.”

A CGI of the scheme

She added: “This new facility will be used by the whole university, promoting the development of cross-disciplinary research and teaching in sport and exercise science, psychology and nutritional sciences.”

Clugston contract manager John Manning commented: “The collaborative approach adopted by the University has enabled all parties to contribute to developing the facility.

“Over the coming weeks, we will be engaging with our suppliers to deliver what we know will be a valuable resource for the university.”

Lucilla Waugh, partner at Newcastle-based Muckle LLP, which has advised on the development, said: “Working with the University and Clugston on the adjoining Sports Centre project certainly paid dividends in agreeing the stage one pre-construction services agreement with Clugston for this new academic building.

“We look forward to working with them further in successfully concluding the second stage.”

The scheme is due to open in January 2020.