HIGHER EDUCATION
The post-pandemic landscape presents new opportunities and challenges for higher education. Enhanced wellbeing, dynamic learning and agile working are becoming the norm. We help universities develop future-fit campuses that deliver world class teaching and research.
With decades of experience working at the cutting-edge of education construction consultancy, we can guide you towards achieving a sustainable and optimised assets and unlock its full potential.
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (SOABE)
UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON
SERVICES: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
COMPLETION: 2020
VALUE: £26M
Located on a former brewery site, the project involved the refurbishment of a retained Grade II listed structure alongside a major new-build. The building provides high tech teaching spaces and student resources, including specialist laboratories, architectural studios, digital and research facilities. RLB led the professional team, setting out both the aspirational and logistical challenges that the site faced and drove the project forward with a common purpose shared by all members of the team. The Deputy Director of Estates, Paul Davis, commented that the team was the most collaborative and effective he had ever worked with.
KNIGHTS PARK
KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
SERVICES: COST MANAGEMENT, WHOLE LIFE COSTING, MEP COSTING
COMPLETION: 2019
VALUE: £22M
A phased renovation of an occupied 1960s building was undertaken to upgrade teaching facilities, replace life expired M&E systems, and improve adjacencies and circulation within the building. We were initially appointed to conduct a feasibility study to examine various options for the redevelopment. We were subsequently appointed to provide cost consultancy services on the first phase of the masterplan. Our services included:
∎ Cost advice for the development of M&E solutions for technical spaces.
∎ Whole life cost modelling to identify the life cycle replacement, hard FM and energy costs over a 60 year life span.
BEATRICE SHILLING BUILDING
ROYAL HOLLOWAY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
SERVICES: PROJECT MANAGEMENT, COST MANAGEMENT, CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION
COMPLETION: 2018
VALUE: £24M
A key part of the brief was to provide academic space that was easily reconfigurable and could be used for a range of courses. We used a column free floor plate that provides this and can be easily adapted to suit future academic needs. RLB provided cost and project management services and assisted in identifying a logistics strategy to enable the use of long span structural components.
HEALTH & LIFE SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF READING
SERVICES: COST MANAGEMENT
COMPLETION: 2020
VALUE: £55M
This £55 million building forms part of the university’s strategic commitment to life sciences and will provide a new-build home for the School of Biological Sciences, which used to be spread across four outdated buildings. RLB provided cost management services including value engineering input that drove the development of a cost effective ‘two wing’ building form and M&E solution. Arranged around a central atrium, the accommodation includes:
∎ Flexible Cat 2 research labs to serve the needs of 95 researchers and 145 doctoral students
∎ Associated prep and storage areas including media prep, cold stores, dirty waste and freezer stores.
∎ Tissue culture room and controlled environment rooms and microscopy rooms
∎ Biological Research Unit (BRU)
∎ Write up areas, seminar rooms and offices
Connected Campus
The global pandemic might have shifted the higher education sector’s use of space, but at the University of East London, RLB is delivering initiatives that keep the campus firmly at the heart of its university experience - and its long-term ambitions.
Connected Campus is the University’s multi-million-pound investment programme that is transforming its three campuses at Docklands, Stratford and University Square, to create an enhanced learning and teaching environment. Since 2020, RLB’s team of cost and project managers has been an integral part of the University’s Projects and Estates Development Team, delivering projects ranging from the refurbishment of a Grade II* listed 19th century building to the introduction of ward simulation space for clinical skills training.
