Completing in 2020, the building will bring together many different engineering disciplines into one state-of-the-art space. It will provide different and more flexible ways of working for both staff and students, training the next generation of engineers.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham Professor Andy Schofield carried out the ceremonial duties. He said: “It is an honour to be able to break ground on this project, which underlines our commitment to providing a first class education to engineering undergraduate and postgraduate students in the context of a cutting-edge research environment. The connection with industry, exemplified by the UKRRIN Centre of Excellence for Digital Systems, will enhance the impact of our research and contribute to the development of new discoveries. I am very much looking forward to welcoming our engineering staff and the first wave of students into this building in September 2020.”

Willmott Dixon in the Midlands Managing Director Peter Owen said: “I’m thrilled to have been able to break ground on the new School of Engineering. We are delighted to be part of the development of this facility and look forward to how it will pioneer industry advancements in engineering and digital systems research and provide students with world-class learning facilities.”

The project is due for completion in 2020 and marks the third major partnership between the University of Birmingham and Willmott Dixon, alongside the Green Heart, which will be complete in early 2019 and the Teaching and Learning Building, which will be complete in 2020.

Notes for editors

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