BIFoR

Four new developments at the University of Birmingham have between them received five regional industry awards for their design and development.

At the West Midlands Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the following awards were received:
• Infrastructure – Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR).
• Residential – The Chamberlain Residence Scheme.
• Innovation through Design – The Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry
• West Midlands Project of the Year - BIFoR

At the West Midlands Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards, Birmingham Business School’s new Postgraduate Teaching Centre, the Alan Walters Building, was recognised for excellence in design.

BIFoR aims to provide fundamental science, social science and cultural research of direct relevance to forested landscapes anywhere in the world. In its judgement, RICS said: “A project with a small physical footprint but with the potential for national and global importance. Intricately planned, sensitively executed, collaborating with Australia, US and Amazonian research to assess the impact of CO2 on our ‘Green Infrastructure’.

Chamberlain is the newest student accommodation, home to 702 students overlooking the lake in the Vale. RICS said: “The Chamberlain Residence impressed throughout, scoring consistently across all categories. The design of the project was extremely positive, sympathetically responding to the neighbouring conservation through a striking modern design.”

RICS described the new Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry as: “the first integrated centre built in the UK for 40 years, at a cost of £50m. Innovation in procurement, finance and delivery involving both public and private partners has secured a landmark facility providing both modern dental training and cutting edge treatment to the public.”

The £10 million Alan Walters Building opened its doors in autumn 2016 as part of the University of Birmingham’s Business School, and the RIBA Jury said: “The building is a fitting addition to Birmingham Business School. Much calmer in its scale and expression than the neighbouring 1970s landmark Muirhead Tower, it conveys quiet confidence and inner poise through its dignified internal spaces and careful detailing. The architects are very much in control of their design, where every element is carefully chosen and intentional.”

University Director of Projects Kevin Dickinson said: “An enormous amount of time and work has gone into taking these projects from vision to design, to physical construction, with a large team contributing to each. It is fantastic to have each of these major projects acknowledged in such a public way by RICS and RIBA. I’d like to thank everyone involved.”

All buildings will now go forward to be considered for national awards.

ENDS

Further information on the University's campus developments programme is available here.

For more information, contact Sally Xerri-Brooks Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Manager at the University of Birmingham, on +44 (0)121 414 5028.