Digital Engineering and Technology Park, University of Chichester, Chichester
Sector
Education
Value
£30.5 million
Status
Complete
Background
The University of Chichester’s Digital Engineering and Technology Park represented a significant investment for the university, providing a 5,900m2 academic building for the digital and engineering technology department at the Bognor Regis campus.
The scheme provides learning space including teaching rooms and IT suites. A co‐working space was also designed to support local small businesses. The scheme has brought together skills and expertise across both departments to create a STEM offering, with co-working spaces designed to support and provide opportunities for regional businesses and their employees.
Requirements
The engineering department follows the “Conceive ‐ Design ‐ Implement – Operate” (CDIO) methodology and required ‘clean’ teaching areas, a CDIO Active Learning Space and associated facilities such as fabrication, welding and machine workshops incorporating CNC machines, 3D additive layer printers and other equipment. General mechanical engineering and electronics laboratories were required together with a chemical laboratory to support the engineering department.
High specification media facilities similar to those at the university’s Chichester campus were also required, including ‘Mac’ teaching rooms, editing and finishing suites, support technicians’ area, green-screen rooms and open access IT facilities.
Improving its connectivity to the surrounding area, the scheme also specified the creation of a new access road from Felpham Way, pedestrian and vehicular routes to the existing campus, hard and soft landscaping, and car parking provision.
Challenges
The project was constructed on a plot of land that posed some challenging ground conditions. Part-situated on a floodplain, the project team explored several options and collaborated with the Environment Agency to ensure successful delivery.
The project was in difficultly and the university sought a solution that would enable an OJEU compliant replacement to be appointed as quickly as possible.
Outcomes
Perfect Circle – via Scape Group’s National Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework – was able to offer a solution that enabled consultants that met the university’s satisfaction and cost requirements to be selected almost immediately, which allowed the development programme to be maintained and all requirements be delivered.
Additional services provided:
Quantity Surveying
