MMC 52pp M10 WEB

article
High
Specification
for a Higher
Education
Building
Architecturally designed and built completely to spec, the new three-storey building on the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston
Campus is full of unique features.
New office space was required to
accommodate University academics:
overall growth and construction work
elsewhere on campus meant that staff were
temporarily displaced. Planning permission
was granted for a new office block, but only for
3 and a half years.
Not Just a Temporary Solution
The brief: the building needed to be temporary
but not feel temporary, and it needed to be
spacious, contemporary and light. Time was of
the essence, but without compromise on finish.
Of the three companies asked to tender by the
University, Wernick Buildings were selected as
the preferred tenderer based on a combination
of cost, quality and programme A Wernick
Buildings’ modular system allowed the
architects to customise the internal and
external finishes while maintaining the budget
and schedule.
A wide range of features were specified from the
outset: from architectural features such as the
large sections of glazing, feature banding and
projecting window surrounds, down to the
finishing touches of skirtings, window frames
and doors. The resulting space is befitting to its
prestigious surroundings and listed
neighbouring buildings.
Modular Installation and
Feedback
After just six weeks in the factory, the 36
modules were loaded and ready for the trip from
South Wales to Birmingham. The February
installation was on schedule: even after allowing
for some of the worst snow this country has
seen for some time! Crane trucks manoeuvred
the modules through mature trees on the site –
giving the final impression that the building had
always been there.
Kevin O’Flaherty, Senior Project Manager at
University of Birmingham is responsible for a
portion of the University’s ambitious capital
programme, from the inception to getting the
keys. Kevin, alongside the architects, worked
very closely with the team at Wernick Buildings
saying that he was in touch almost every day as
decisions had to be made so quickly. Kevin
found the Wernick team to be “highly
professional and always wanting to do the best
job”.
Kevin remarked: “I often hear “it doesn’t feel
like a modular building” - the extra touches
have really made the space and feedback so far
has been overwhelmingly positive from both
staff and planning.”
Due to the nature of the modular system used,
the University can choose to move the building:
either keeping the current configuration or
changing it completely. The modules are built to
be stacked up to four-storeys high or reduced
down to one-storey. Kevin, however, feels the
building sits very comfortably in its existing
setting.
Architectural Touches
Glancy Nicholls Architects Ltd, based in
Birmingham and London, is a Royal Institute of
British Architects (RIBA) Chartered Practice and
was started in 2004. Wernick worked with the
firm previously, also at the University of
Birmingham. Wernick helped GNA to deliver a
low impact building for researchers studying the
surrounding woodlands. Read more about the
BIFoR scheme here www.wernick.co.uk/casestudy/buildings/specialist/bifor
GNA architectural assistant Aiden Astle, who
worked on the new office building, is excited
about both projects’ potential to “challenge the
misconception of modular buildings”. The office
building, he added, is further proof of modular’s
capabilities: “This project demonstrates that a
limited time-frame doesn’t need to infringe on
quality. This project has proven the flexibility of
this method of construction and the results
speak for themselves.”
For more information on modular buildings,
click here
www.wernick.co.uk/buildings/modular, call
0800 112 4640 or email us
Enquiries.Buildings@wernickgroup.co.uk
www.wernick.co.uk
20 MMC
Nov 2018 M10