Springfield will become Europe’s biggest built environment education campus

The University plans to transform the former Springfield Brewery site in the city centre with a project that will involve both refurbishment of the existing building and a new-build element.

A BREEAM rating of ‘very good’ has been targeted that will take into account the new build, refurbishment and fit out elements.

The university has secured planning and listed building consent and has just received £8m of funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The plans include the demolition of several existing buildings which have fallen into disrepair, redeveloping and refurbishing others, as well as creating a new building.

The investment will provide 8,100m² of space, creating an atrium, open plan design studios, lab and workshop space, research space, lecture theatres, classrooms, social learning space, student services, catering and café facilities and administrative support.

The historic outer brick façade on Grimstone Street and Cambridge Street will be retained and the area landscaped. Old and new buildings will be linked by a glazed bridge.
When completed, the new campus will provide space initially for nearly 800 students and 50 staff, with the number of students projected to rise to more than 1,200 and will be a centre of excellence for the built environment, construction and high value manufacturing.

The site also includes the West Midlands Construction University Technical College, and the Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills Hub, which will open in August 2017.