Firm will build new art and design facility for Birmingham City University

Willmott Dixon has been awarded a 拢61m contract by Birmingham City University to build phase one of its city centre campus.

The firm will construct a purpose-built 18,310m2 home for the university鈥檚 Institute of Art and Design.

The new centre, which has been designed by Associated Architects, includes a large 鈥檓edia hub鈥� comprising TV, radio and photographic studios - and is part of 拢180m campus upgrade plan.

Work on phase one will commence in autumn 2011, with completion scheduled for September 2013.

Peter Owen, Willmott Dixon鈥檚 managing director for the Midlands, said: 鈥淥ur role with Birmingham City University places us at the heart of creating Birmingham鈥檚 bright future.

鈥淲e will make sure the local community benefits from our work, which includes spending around 80% of our budget on companies within 30 miles using local sub-contractors, trades people and suppliers.鈥�

Graham Rhodes, director of estates at Birmingham City University, added: 鈥淲ith Willmott Dixon鈥檚 expertise in higher education, alongside their local presence in Birmingham, we are delighted to make them our preferred bidder so we can turn our eye-catching designs into a reality.鈥�

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