Bath Spa University’s new academic building has been shortlisted in the Project of the Year (between £10m – £50m) category at the Construction News Awards 2015.
Known as Commons, the state-of-the-art academic building which opened last summer was built by construction group Skanska.
It has a range of facilities, including 1,800 sq m of teaching and learning space and a digital studio and editing suites for media related courses. It also includes a giant two-storey high media wall as well as an outdoor amphitheatre, spaces for students to socialise and a café.
Bath Spa University vice-chancellor Professor Christina Slade said: “The Commons building is a significant part of a long-term investment in the student experience at Bath Spa. The high quality facilities provided by Commons help to ensure our graduates are well prepared to meet the needs of the growing creative industries as they go on to work across the creative economy, both in the UK and abroad.”
The Construction News Awards run annually to promote and reward outstanding projects within the construction industry; they are considered the industry’s biggest award event and the ‘one to win’. The judging panel for this year’s entries consisted of 55 industry experts where the shortlisted entries now face a rigorous interview in front of a prestigious judging panel, consisting of senior figures from 20 major clients.
Skanska managing director Terry Elphick said: “We’re very proud of the Commons building we have created for Bath Spa University. Our team has applied their many years of education sector experience to deliver exceptional facilities.
“We have constructed a state-of-the-art learning environment while minimising disruption to staff and students. It’s great to receive this external recognition from these industry-recognised awards.”
The winners for the Construction News Awards 2015 will be announced on Tuesday 30 June 2015 at a grand, black-tie event held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. A total of 1,200 of the industry’s elite will attend the ceremony to recognise and celebrate the construction achievements of the year.
Pictured: Commons at night by Chris Wakefield http://www.crescent-photography.com/
