VINCI Construction UK ‘Tops Out’ Unique Building for Coventry

The new engineering and computing faculty for Coventry University has had a Topping Out ceremony, marking the completion of the main structure.

The iconic building, designed by Arup Associates and being built by VINCI Construction UK, is part of the university’s overall £160m redevelopment plan for the city centre campus. It will bring under one roof a range of imaginative learning spaces, laboratories, workshops and lecture theatres. The £55m six storey structure will officially open in April 2012.

The Lord Mayor of Coventry, Brian Kelsey who was guest of honour at the ceremony labelled the building as a “feat of engineering”. He said:

“It is a feat of engineering and will go down in history as one of Coventry’s iconic buildings, rivalling the university’s library”.

Coventry University believe the development of the building is an excellent example of the university working with industry.

John Micklewright, Project Manager for VINCI Construction UK said:

“This is going to be a unique building. No one will have seen anything like this before. When it’s finished it will be a tool for the students to see how design and engineering works in practice.

Furthermore, with the challenges for universities to have energy efficient, sustainable buildings, Coventry is now the benchmark for best practice.”

Published: 14/06/2011