Construction begins on University of Salford's new Robotic Building
A groundbreaking event has been held to celebrate Morgan Sindall Construction beginning work at the University of Salford’s North of England Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC)
The £16 million NERIC building is part of the £2.5 billion Crescent masterplan, a 240-acre major regeneration scheme being delivered by the University of Salford, Salford City Council and development partner, The English Cities Fund – a strategic joint venture between Muse Developments, Legal & General and Homes England - aimed at driving economic and social prosperity for the whole of the city over the life of the 20-year programme, through the delivery of spaces where people can live, work, relax and innovate.
The NERIC facility is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and will enable the University’s robotics and automation specialists to expand their work with SMEs around the country to provide solution development, design, testing and validation of digital innovation. Disciplines covered by the 22,580 square foot NERIC building will include the dynamic and growing sectors of robotics for intelligent infrastructure, digital automation and supply chain improvement, as well as health, wellbeing and integrated care technologies.
The event was attended by representatives from the University of Salford and Morgan Sindall Construction.
Professor Joe Sweeney, Dean of the School of Science, Engineering and Environment said: “Today is a landmark moment for the University and marks the start of a new chapter in the University of Salford’s journey to be unrivalled leaders in the area of robotics and autonomous systems. NERIC will be a world-class facility and a destination where exciting things will happen when we bring together SMEs and our experts to innovate and develop solutions for the future.”
NERIC will deliver a new gateway building to the Innovation District providing the University with a new and significant presence facing on to Frederick Road. The new facility will be an all-electric building and incorporates solar PV panels on the roof, and an adiabatic air handling unit. Additionally, an early change in the design from concrete to a steel frame will result in a saving of 504 tonnes of carbon emissions over the building’s lifecycle – the equivalent of 1.68 million miles worth of travel in an average family car.
Shaun Jones, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Greater Manchester said: “Our work with the University of Salford is bringing a tangible boost to the wider North of England innovation landscape. It’s a real privilege for our team to help create the cutting edge facilities – like the SEE Building and the NERIC - that will enable the University’s brightest minds to study, research and develop the new technologies that will improve the world around us while bringing significant economic growth to our region.”
Image: Centre, Professor Helen Marshall, Vice-Chancellor The University of Salford
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