Morgan Sindall Construction has been awarded the contract to build the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre.
As previously reported by Robotics & Innovation, the University of Salford secured funding from the European Regional Development Fund to support the creation of the £13m Robotics Centre in June.
Construction on the Z-shaped building will begin early next year with the existing centre demolished to make way for the 22,5000ft2 centre. The facility, which will be made up of a series of stacked laboratories, will allow the university’s robotics and automation specialists to expand its work with SMEs around the country.
The facility will cover disciplines including industry use of robotics for intelligent infrastructure, digital automation and supply chain improvement, and health, wellbeing and integrated care technologies.
Shaun Jones, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Manchester, said: “The University of Salford’s masterplan reflects a bold vision in terms of developing a transformational future for the city and supporting the sectors that will drive the country forward.
“Throughout the robotics centre build programme, we plan to work closely with students, residents and community groups to ensure that our growing presence on campus brings benefits to the whole of Salford.”
The announcement follows the establishment of a working relationship between the construction company and the university. It was announced earlier this year that Morgan Sindall will build the university’s new £65m Science, Engineering and Environmental Building.
The North of England Robotics Innovation Centre is part of a wider Salford Crescent masterplan, which will see £2.5bn invested in the regeneration of a 240-acre site over 20 years. The team behind the project said the scheme aims to drive economic and social prosperity for the whole of the city through the delivery of spaces where people can live, work, relax and innovate.
