Beatrice Shilling Building, Coventry University
The Beatrice Shilling Building provides a focus for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students at Coventry University. Linked to the faculty’s existing teaching block via a new covered bridge, the development includes the construction of a four-storey steel frame and pre-cast concrete superstructure.
The new building will accommodate additional students for the Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing providing a range of learning spaces that will include a gaming and virtual reality studio, a specialist area for 3D printing and rapid prototyping, a laser facility and physics and electronics laboratories, all designed around a full height central atrium configured to promote student and staff collaboration.
We managed the project from the outset through the early design development phases, the planning application and procurement of the Main Contractor. Post-contract, we took on the Employer’s Agent role working with the Main Contractor to handover the project ahead of the completion date.
Key details
Project name
Beatrice Shilling Building
Client
Coventry University
Location
Coventry
Services provided
- Project Management
- Employer’s Agent
Challenge
The key challenge from the outset was delivering this complex project on time and within the University’s capital programme allocation whilst simultaneously engaging with the wide range of stakeholders across the University to ensure their requirements were suitably captured. Throughout the project, we had to balance all these requirements with the overall project programme and budget to keep the project on track and at the same time deliver a building that aligned with the University’s vision.
Working to a backdrop of an ever-changing higher education environment, the stakeholder requirements had to be locked down and fixed to allow the design to be developed. A crucial aspect of our role was providing stakeholders with feedback on the project’s progress so they were taken on the journey with the project team to ensure they were fully engaged in the outcome.
Solution
With the Estate Development and Project Team, we mapped out the key stakeholders that would feed into the brief early in the project; this included the faculty, estates development, operations and maintenance, the University’s senior leadership team and external stakeholders such as planners and statutory providers.
A timeline for engagement was agreed with all stakeholders and aligned with the RIBA plan of works. Key milestones were included at the end of each stage where the design was presented back to stakeholders to show how their requirements had been considered in the design, with any comments captured to be addressed during the next stage.
A project principles group was set up to act as project board to make the ultimate decision where stakeholder requirements conflicted or deviated from the original brief, with change control introduced at RIBA Stage 3.
Project statistics
four-storey steel frame and pre-cast concrete superstructure
construction programme
US
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