Balfour Beatty, Laing O’Rourke and Sir Robert McAlpine have been chosen by the University of Manchester for a £1bn capital works framework.
The University of Manchester’s campus masterplan is one of the largest in the higher education sector. Over the next eight years Balfour Beatty, Laing O’Rourke and Sir Robert McAlpine will deliver the majority of the university’s capital projects valued at more than £10m.
Developments include the £350m Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD), to bring together the four Schools of Engineering.
University director of estates and facilities Diana Hampson said: “This construction partnering framework is probably unique within higher education. The scope and scale of the campus masterplan requires a huge amount of resource and presents significant delivery challenges. A collaborative, partnership arrangement was therefore vital in ensuring both quality and value.
“It will benefit all partners and importantly it will have environmental as well as social benefits such as providing training and creating jobs for unemployed people. We are looking forward to working closely with the three contractors on some landmark developments across our campus.”
Jon Adams, Balfour Beatty managing director for northern major projects, said: “We applaud the University of Manchester for their innovative and groundbreaking procurement route.”
Laing O’Rourke Construction UK boss Steve Coleby, Leader said: “The values underpinning the construction partnering framework align well to ours and will help ensure all partners drive – and importantly share – innovation and best practice for the benefit of the university and its stakeholders, while we deliver a world-class campus.”
