Willmott Dixon has won a £7 million contract to create a new teaching and office space for the University of Birmingham.

The company will refurbish the old gymnasium building at the Edgbaston Campus to create the facility, as well as building a lecture theatre and transitional space for other departments.

Built in the 1940s, the building was originally scheduled to be demolished as part of estate renewal works by the University. However, it will now be retained and modernised, including adding a two-storey extension on top of the gym area to enhance the useable space.

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Working with Associated Architects, Willmott Dixon aims to complete the modernisation work by September 2018.

The deal adds to over £70m worth of work being carried out by the contractor for universities across the Midlands. This includes two projects at the University of Birmingham worth £15m to create "The Green Heart" and a new Research Data Centre at Edgbaston Campus.

Peter Owen, Managing Director of Willmott Dixon in the Midlands, said: "We are delighted to secure our third project for the University of Birmingham, adding to its transformational campus redevelopment. These projects are fantastic for the Midlands, positioning it as a world leader for education."

(LM/JP)