Morgan Sindall has announced the completion of the University of Central Lancashire's (UCLan) new £12 million forensic science laboratories.

The 4,000m² forensic science facility is the first building on UCLan's campus to achieve the BREEAM 'excellent' standard for construction.

Named after James Brierley Firth, one of the UK's greatest pioneers of forensic science, the new building provides additional accommodation for the School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences and the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The new teaching space will accommodate up to 160 students and includes four laboratories, two rooms for chemistry teaching, one analytical laboratory and one fire laboratory.


The new facility provides further evidence of UCLan's impressive sustainability credentials. These include the largest solar panel array of any UK university and being one of the first 12 organisations nationally to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard.

Jim Morgan, Area Director for Morgan Sindall and former graduate of UCLan, said: "This is a very significant addition to the university's estate and we’re delighted it will have such a positive effect on the students' learning experiences. The 'excellent' BREEAM rating is a significant boost to the university's already impressive sustainability credentials.

"Across Morgan Sindall, we are regularly delivering construction projects which achieve the higher BREEAM ratings and we understand the increasing importance of this in modern building design and construction."

The JB Firth Building will be officially opened on 9 September 2011.

(CD/KMcA)