The new Mountbatten Building

The recent spell of bad weather has failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the site team. You will now be able to see that the frame contractor, Mitchellsons (under the management of Bovis), have made excellent progress on the skeleton of the building. Work on the combined utilities building (CUB) has already been completed and the constructors are now working on the top floor roof of the main building.  

Work on the external cladding framework has recently started on the lower floors, with Lakesmere's operatives commencing work on the west side of the building. The specialist moulds for the atrium feature staircase are currently being manufactured off-site.   

Internally, specialist ductwork contractors, Parkers and Senior Hargreaves, have started work in the clean room areas on the ground floor. IDC Clean Rooms are also undertaking preliminary works to the clean room environment. Extension of the University's district heating system into Mountbatten will be completed soon ready for the delivery and installation of large air handling units into the clean rooms. 

Over the next two months specialist contractors will undertake elements of the project including process pipe work, electrical works and plant installation. During this period temporary sheeting will be constructed over the clean room areas as a pre-cursor to the erection of the glazed external cladding system.   

The "just in time" delivery system for materials is now getting into full swing allowing for daily deliveries of materials on smaller vehicles and minimising disruption to University traffic in Salisbury Road. Deliveries of steel reinforcement and ready-mixed concrete will begin to tail off over the next month until the main structural elements have been completed.   

Gas diversion works to the adjacent Zepler building and the alteration of mains services from the campus to Mountbatten have now been completed.  

The project’s completion remains on target for June 2008 and the management team will continue to minimise inconvenience to those using the University whilst work continues.