Construction of world-class well-being research centre to start next year

Sheffield Hallam University has appointed BAM Construction to build its £14M steel-framed world-leading Advanced Well-being Research Centre (AWRC).

Construction of the AWRC is scheduled to start in February 2018 and it will form the centrepiece of the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park (OLP).

Delivered by Sheffield Hallam University in partnership with Legacy Park, the AWRC is set to become the most advanced research and development centre for health and physical activity in the world. The key facility is supported by UK Government, who has committed £14M of funding to the project.

“This scheme renews our successful partnership with the University. BAM’s strength in the higher education market is evident across our record in Yorkshire. We’ve also got a long-term commitment in Sheffield where we have contributed a lot to the City’s skyline and built environment,” said BAM Construction Manager Kelvin Pollard.

“This fascinating new scheme will demand many skills from the construction team, and a very close understanding between ourselves, the University and all of the partners.  We are very excited to bring our expertise to its creation, and as ever, will use the opportunity of the build itself to add something back for the community around it.”

Designed by HLM Architects, the Centre will have facilities including; a 7.5m high indoor laboratory, a 3rd generation pitch with cameras and tracking instruments, 3D biomechanical and gait analysis and scanning, a manufacturing workshop, MRI, CT, ultrasound, body composition measurement and physiological testing and a technology demonstration hub.

The primary aim of the AWRC is to create innovations that will ‘improve the health of the nation’, tackling key issues such as static levels of physical activity, rising obesity and mental health whilst also attracting new jobs and investment to the region.

It will also feature indoor and outdoor facilities for 70 researchers to carry out world-leading research on health and physical activity in collaboration with the private sector. It will form a key part of the City Region’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) – a 2,000 acre centre of excellence for innovation-led research and industrial collaboration.