University of Northampton appoints Bowmer & Kirkland to construct new Waterside Campus

Main contractor, Bowmer & Kirkland, has been appointed by the University of Northampton to construct its new aspirational Waterside Campus.

The Derbyshire-based contractor will start on site later this year and the project will include the construction of five main teaching buildings – a Creative Hub, Learning Hub, Research and Enterprise Hub, Sports Hub and Logistics, and also involves the refurbishment of a Grade II listed engine shed for a Students’ Union building and offices.

The new campus – based in the Waterside Enterprise Zone – will deliver the University’s aspiration to be an internationally facing University committed to delivering outstanding life-changing opportunities in education. The University offers ground-breaking areas of study, underpinned by a culture of entrepreneurship, purposeful research and social enterprise recognised around the world for its originality and impact.

The construction is to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and the entire campus will be low carbon. It will offer flexible learning and teaching spaces for the use of innovative technologies, alongside a vibrant mix of leisure and retail activities to be used by students and the wider community.

Bowmer & Kirkland is one of the UK’s foremost education contractors and over the past five years has completed more than £550 million worth of projects in the sector.

University of Northampton Vice Chancellor, Nick Petford, commented: “We are delighted that Bowmer & Kirkland will be working with us to build our new campus in the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone.  We are committed to providing an excellent student experience, and our new £330m development offers opportunities for students to study in the heart of Northampton, building on the outstanding facilities we offer and our close links with the community and employers in the region.”

Regional Director, Stephen Chambers, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the University of Northampton has put its trust in Bowmer & Kirkland to complete this exciting project which is a huge investment for the University and puts them at the heart of the community.

“It will help to increase the economic prosperity of the area and the stunning new facilities can only help to enhance the already excellent reputation of the University both here and abroad.

“We are really looking forward to working with the University and its partners to bring this project to life.”

The project is due to be completed in late Spring 2018.