Graham Construction has secured an £18.8M project for Sheffield Hallam University on their Collegiate Campus.

The scheme will create a new heart to the Collegiate Crescent Campus providing almost 9,500m2 of high quality academic, teaching and social spaces in a new hub building. Alongside student services and general teaching there will be a new cafe, open learning zones and IT rich areas improving the student experience. The building will also provide a new base for the departments of Law, Criminology and Community Justice and Psychology, Sociology and Politics in bespoke teaching areas.

The proposals arrange spaces around a three storey atrium bringing light into the heart of the deep plan scheme and providing a focus for hub activities and primary circulation routes. On the ground floor are the cafe and social learning areas, linking all the entrance areas and providing access to a new external landscaped area on the North of the site. On the upper floors are bespoke teaching areas and staff offices. Terraces on the upper floors maximise the links with the surrounding landscaping and provide external social spaces for staff and students.

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Director of Estates and Facilities at Sheffield Hallam, Mark Swales, said: "The University is committed to becoming a top 50 University by 2015 and our campus is a key part of this. This redevelopment will give our students better facilities and timetabled space. It will provide better space for student support services, learning support and the students union, along with improved accommodation and services for staff.

"It is important that we invest in the future of Sheffield Hallam University and its staff and students, and that we stand by our commitment to remaining a two campus university. We are working closely with the planners to ensure the new development at Collegiate Campus will be innovative, allowing students, staff and the local community to better enjoy the environment and heritage of the picturesque campus."

As part of the University's commitment to delivering a sustainable estate, the new building will target BREEAM 'excellent' rating and will utilise a Building Information Modelling (BIM) design tool to encourage collaborative working between designers, reducing waste and speeding up the construction process.

The development, which is planned to get under way in early March is expected to be completed by autumn 2014.

(GK)