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Client:University of the West of England
Architect:AHR
Contractor:Kier Construction
Construction value:£5m

Optometry and Clinical Skills Centre, University of the West of England

A refurbishment of a former Grade II Victorian listed masonry, concrete and steel laundry building on Glenside Campus. The transformation of the site creates a modern facility that retains its heritage features. Working collaboratively the building has been transformed to provide clinical skills and practical learning spaces with appropriate insulation and acoustic performance. Owned by the University of the West of England (UWE) the complex is being used to teach occupational therapy students and paramedics and allow space for an Optometry degree programme to expand the universities healthcare offering.

“This extra 1,400 square metres of practical learning space will be transformational for our students, offering a flexible environment for a range of programmes including our new optometry degree which has proven incredibly popular and addresses a gap in the market regionally. It is also pleasing that our considerate renovation of this historic space has been recognised with a SKA silver rating by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.”

Professor Steven Neill, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences