Contractor Henry Brothers has begun work on site to build a new Medical Technologies Innovation Facility (MTIF) for Nottingham Trent University.
The contract is the second awarded by the university to Henry Brothers, which is also building a new £23m engineering facility for the East Midlands university.
This latest facility will focus on the development of innovative products and advanced materials to meet future healthcare needs and is part of NTU’s dual-site £23m Medical Technologies Innovation Facility.
It is being built on the Clifton Campus, where a ground-breaking ceremony recently took place.
Ian Taylor, Managing Director of Henry Brothers Midlands, said: “Henry Brothers has partnered with a number of universities to create exciting and inspirational facilities for teaching, research and development.
“For the past year we have been working on a prestigious new engineering building for NTU, which is due to be completed for the upcoming academic year. We are delighted to have been appointed on a second scheme at the Clifton Campus to once again support Nottingham Trent University with its development plans.
“Our portfolio of higher education work includes the award-winning £12.5m STEMLab project and a £30m refurbishment of the W and S science buildings at Loughborough University. These partnerships and contracts have helped Henry Brothers to firmly cement our position as a key contractor in the Midlands and we look forward to delivering this important scheme.”
Henry Brothers secured the contract through the Pagabo Framework and will be working with architect Maber, who designed the facility, civil and structural engineer Curtins, project manager Edge, Gleeds as client cost advisor and quantity surveyor, and Couch Perry Wilkes for M&E services.
Pagabo Chief Executive Officer, Simon Toplass, said: “The MTIF scheme is a transformational project that will allow the University to carry out advanced research and speed up the time to develop medical devices ideas through to commercialisation.
“Pagabo is delighted that the University chose its Major Works Framework to successfully procure Henry Brothers Midlands to construct this new building. Henry Brothers have a great track record in Higher Education, and we are excited that this building will create a foundation that will develop new products and materials aimed at meeting future healthcare needs, whilst continuing to attract students for many years to come.
“Our best-in-class portfolio of construction frameworks always puts our customers’ needs at the heart of the process, deliver precisely on the contractual requirements and account for the social, economic and environmental impacts – meaningful social value.”
The new two-storey facility will feature clean rooms, a digital theatre, laboratories and collaborative working spaces, and will have a BREEAM rating of excellent. Due for completion next year, the multidisciplinary research and development building will integrate the work of scientists, engineers, clinicians, entrepreneurs and industry, who will work collaboratively to develop products and materials.
As part of the dual-site MTIF project, there are also plans for a facility dedicated to pilot production and commercialisation. Planned for the Boots Enterprise Zone in Nottingham, this will provide access to laboratories, clean rooms, technologies and expertise for processing, prototype development and preparing manufacturing processes.
A key aim of MTIF is to improve patient care by speeding up medical product development and getting innovations to market as quickly as possible – critical for business survival, growth and profitability.
The MTIF project – which will receive £9.7million support via the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership – will form strategic alliances with a breadth of organisations to help ensure effective support to companies and researchers entering into product development at any point.
Nottingham Trent University Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mark Biggs, said: “MTIF will improve people’s lives through the development of the next generation of medical technologies. It will support industry and enhance the regional economy in the areas of life sciences and healthcare, key priority sectors for the UK Government. The technologies that will emerge from this initiative will improve the lives of people across the UK and beyond.”
Henry Brothers Midlands, based at Priory Court, Derby Road, Beeston, is part of The Henry Group, which comprises a number of manufacturing and construction sector companies, ranging from external construction through to interiors fit-out. In partnership with clients, it has a proven track record in education, defence, accommodation, commercial, industrial, transport and healthcare sectors.
Now in its fifth year of operation in the Midlands, Henry Brothers Midlands has an annual turnover of £35m, with a group turnover of £100m.
