12 Feb Stella Turk Building Completes for the University of Exeter

The £12m ‘Stella Turk Building’ has been successfully handed over to the University of Exeter.

After an 18-month construction process, the £12m ‘Stella Turk Building’ has been successfully handed over to the University of Exeter.

The project was a priority investment for the University on their Penryn Campus, providing extensive research and laboratory space. The new facilities will accommodate in the region of 200 researchers, specialists and post-graduate students across all disciplines, including the newly established Business School, the Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Renewable Energy and Camborne School of Mines. It is also the new home for Law, Energy Policy and Mathematics. This new facility is critical to building UoE research power and supporting innovation that fosters business engagement in turn, benefiting the Cornish economy. Features of the building include laboratory spaces, which have been designed and built to an ACDP Category 2, along with 5 temperature-controlled rooms.

The building, which has achieved BREEAM Excellent rating for its sustainable credentials, is located at the main entrance to the Penryn Campus, creating a high-quality new arrival point for visitors.

Following a student and staff vote, the new building has been named after Stella Turk MBE. Stella was a pioneering naturalist, author and wildlife recorder, who was instrumental in setting up the Cornwall Biological Records Unit which is now part of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. This extensive database continues to provide vital information to scientists and researchers.

WWA provided client-side project management services from an initial options appraisal and feasibility study through to construction and handover. Managing Associate Partner, Scott James worked closely with FX Plus, who deliver projects on behalf of the University of Exeter and Falmouth University, to ensure the scheme achieved the objectives.

The project team included; Mace as Project/Cost Manager, Stride Treglown as Architect, Airey & Coles as Structural Engineer, Hoare Lea as M&E Engineer and Kier as the Main Contractor.

Scott said: “It has been a rewarding experience working with FXPlus to deliver this fantastic scheme for the University of Exeter. The project that has had a number of challenges, which the Client and team have brought to a successful conclusion to the delight of the building users.

WWA has delivered a number of projects on the Penryn Campus, for both the University of Exeter and Falmouth University including the Heart Building, student accommodation. We are currently working with FXPlus on the development of the new Welcome Building”.