RILD CentreInterserve, the international support services and construction group, is continuing its success under the NHS ProCure21+ procurement framework with a £19.4 million contract to build a Research, Innovation, Learning and Development Centre (RILD Centre).

The centre is for joint clients the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry and the University of Exeter.

Work will begin on site in April 2012.

Interserve is one of the official Principal Supply Chain Partners for ProCure21+. The group has been appointed on 15 projects for nine NHS Trusts since the procurement framework began operating in its new form in 2010. Much of the company's success under ProCure21+ is due to its collaborative approach to working with clients and supply chains. As Richard Ellis, Director (South West) for Interserve puts it: "Interserve is genuinely placed to provide its NHS clients with support across the whole spectrum of the NHS property portfolio, with its unique mix of health, property and construction professionals, providing strategic planning, advice, design and construction of new facilities through to small scale maintenance programmes."

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The new RILD Centre at Wonford will take the form of a single new building, which will be shared by the University of Exeter, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry and the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust for education and training purposes. The project has also been awarded £4.75 million of funding from the prestigious Wellcome-Wolfson capitals award scheme, funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Wolfson Foundation as part of their investment in the UK scientific infrastructure.

The new building will provide four floors of facilities, and will be linked at both ground and first floor levels to the existing Peninsula College of Dentistry and Medicine.

Designed by Devereux Architects, the stylish, modern development will incorporate a highly glazed central 'hub', which will form the main entrance area. The hub will provide views out and plenty of natural light. Accommodation wings will be faced in masonry, with both a textured and smooth finish. Building materials selected throughout will echo those traditionally used locally.

Throughout the construction process, the deployment of Interserve Engineering Services will complement Interserve's role as Principal Supply Chain Partner.The new building is expected to be awarded a BREEAM Excellent rating, and will feature the use of photovoltaics on its roof. It is due for completion at the end of October 2013.

(CD/GK)