BAM Construction is to build a £29 million school of veterinary medicine for the University of Surrey. The contractor will deliver three buildings on the university’s Guildford campus that will allow teaching of veterinary medicine as well as clinical research. The 7,150 sq m academic building will include offices and flexible teaching spaces. It will also have teaching and state-of-the-art research laboratories built to the highest levels of biosecurity. It will also feature a central atrium hosting a café, reception and administrative facilities. The 2,500 sq m animal management centre will provide high containment teaching and research labs, while the 1,500 sq m clinical skills building will include an animal examination area. Infrastructure will also be required, such as earthworks, drainage, utilities and IT connections as well as the construction of roads, cycle ways, footpaths, exercise areas for animals and landscaping. Sustainability features will include naturally ventilated office and teaching spaces, and an atrium roof shaped to guide rising air into the plant room for heat extraction. BAM will look to work with local suppliers where possible, and will seek to involve students in the construction project to provide learning opportunities. Construction manager Anthony Nagle said: “BAM is delighted to have been chosen for this major scheme at the University of Surrey. “We look forward to creating top-class facilities for students, teachers and clinicians and – just as importantly – to ensuring the project benefits the regional veterinary community by providing lifelong learning facilities, research and commercial opportunities to work with the University.” Construction is due to start in February, with completion by summer 2015. Elsewhere in Surrey, BAM recently completed new service facilities between junctions 9 and 10 of the M25 near to Effingham. The company is ranked top of the UK’s carbon reduction league table (issued by the environment agency) and is the best placed contractor in the annual Best UK Companies to Work For list.
