Morgan Sindall wins university acoustics building job

Morgan Sindall Construction has secured the main contractor role on a new Acoustics Building for the University of Salford.

The scheme, which has yet to receive planning permission, is the second project to come forward as part of the £2.5bn Crescent Innovation plan.

This wider scheme is aimed at fostering collaboration between industry, academia and the local community through the creation of research, residential and commercial facilities.

Steven Gregory, Morgan Sindall Construction’s area director for the North West, said: “Over recent years it has been our privilege to deliver several world-class new facilities for the staff and students at this brilliant university, and we are thrilled to be renewing our relationship on this brilliant new project.

“Through its investment in its campus, the university has demonstrated that it is focused on using the technologies of tomorrow to help improve the world around us – an ethos fully shared by Morgan Sindall.”

The 1,300 square metre Acoustics Building will house the teaching, research, testing and commercial activities of the University of Salford Acoustics Department.

The proposed scheme, if granted permission, will feature a mixture of single and triple-height internal spaces.

The 97 hectare Crescent Innovation masterplan is being developed by a partnership of the university, Salford City Council, and ECF – a joint venture of Homes England, Legal & General, and Morgan Sindall regeneration subsidiary Muse.

Morgan Sindall has previously worked with the university on the creation of multiple schemes including the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre.

The planning application for the Acoustics Building was submitted to Salford City Council just before Christmas, revealing a base plinth on lower levels with upper floors clad in red metal.

Documents submitted alongside the application said that the design team “are dedicated in targeting BREEAM ‘excellent’ with a stretch target of ‘outstanding’.”

The building will sit on a cleared, hardstanding site that historically contained a single-storey industrial unit, associated service yard and car parking.

It is owned by the council, with the university currently in in the process of purchasing the site.

The value of the construction contract has not been announced.