Final beam of steel erected at UCLan EIC

17 January 2018

Timelapse footage shows completion of the building’s steel frame

Construction of the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) has reached another milestone as the last beam in 630 tonnes of steel was put in place.

Timelapse footage filmed over seven weeks has captured the progress at the site of the £30 million-plus state-of-the art facility, part of the University’s £200 million Masterplan.

Main contractor BAM Construction is now installing 150 lorry loads of pre-cast floor planks, the largest of which weigh 11 tonnes and are 450mm thick.

The company has diverted 200 wagon loads of excavated material by stockpiling it offsite and returning it for use when required, as well as recycling 90 percent of the waste produced via Preston-based charity, Recycling Lives.

Michael Ahern, Chief Operating Officer at UCLan, said: “It’s exciting to see the building taking shape before our very eyes, and the timelapse footage only highlights the scale and magnitude of this project.

“The EIC will be a real asset to the University and the region, bringing enormous educational and economic benefits now and for generations to come. As an organisation dedicated to driving improvements to the community as well as our students, we are committed to delivering a first-class facility which Preston can be proud of.”

"The EIC will be a real asset to the University and the region, bringing enormous educational and economic benefits now and for generations to come."

The EIC will further establish UCLan as a leader in engineering innovation, and is anticipated to produce an increase of 500 locally trained graduates per year in areas including aerospace, mechanical and energy technologies and engineering.

Staff, students, and companies within the region will have access to top of the range equipment including flight simulators, Formula One cars and specialist electronic labs, which will allow students to work on live, real world projects.

The integrated teaching and research space will deliver a range of key objectives, including ensuring that local skills reflect social and economic needs and increasing the number of females in engineering careers.

Identified as a signature project within Lancashire’s Strategic Economic Plan, the EIC has secured £10.5 million via the Lancashire Enterprise Partnerships’ Growth Deal with the Government. The new facility has also received £5.8 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and £5 million from HEFCE’s STEM Capital Fund.