Groundworks on the £35 million Aerospace Integration Research Centre (AIRC) designed by CPMG are underway at Cranfield University.

The three-storey building includes an open laboratory space with a 40 metre clear span.

It is capable of housing large airframe integration projects, presentation and visualisation space alongside simulation facilities.

Researchers and engineers from Cranfield University and its partner companies will be working closely together in an open plan office environment on the top floor.

The public face of the building is provided by a glazed triple-height ideas space.

This will provide a showcase for the university and its partners, accommodating exhibitions and conferencing, along with informal meeting areas.

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Adjacent areas will introduce space for manufacturers to conduct private research, alongside office space and meeting rooms for the university research team and partners.

Hugh Avison, Design Director at CPMG, said: "We were thrilled to be selected by Cranfield University to design and deliver this unique project. The new building will bring researchers and manufacturers together to help drive forward innovation in engineering and design – not only is this a significant development for the university, but for the future of manufacturing in aerospace and transport.

"We made sure the designs for the facility not only met the brief to provide the space and functionality that was needed, but also reflected the university’s strong architectural identity, which already has a number of flagship buildings.

"Our design was selected from a number of competitors as we portrayed the strength of the university’s academic research within the architecture of the building."

The AIRC is due to open for business in autumn 2016 and is part of a broader £54 million investment in its aerospace and transport facilities.

Funding for the project consists of co-funding from Airbus and Rolls-Royce, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and investment from Cranfield itself.

(LM/MH)