Morrison Construction has been awarded a £42m contract to build the new flagship National Manufacturing Institute Scotland facility
The new flagship National Manufacturing Institute Scotland facility is at the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland.
The contract, worth around £42m, was awarded after the University of Strathclyde approached the market with an Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) restricted tender process.
The tender process saw Morrison Construction prove to be the most economically advantageous in terms of both cost and quality.
BREEAM ‘outstanding’
As part of the contract, Morrison Construction is committed to achieving the design team’s aspirations of the building being awarded BREEAM ‘outstanding’ for sustainability.
To help achieve this, the team will be using innovative technologies and embracing the circular economy by using materials that have been, or can be, remanufactured and reused where possible.
There will be an avoidance of the most polluting materials such as concrete and other quarried aggregates and where possible, the use of materials that are manufactured overseas will be designed out.
At around 1.5 times the size of Hampden football pitch, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland facility, which is being developed next to Glasgow Airport, is set to be the hub for the future of manufacturing in Scotland.
It will house a fully digitalised factory of the future, skills academy and collaboration hub that will bring manufacturers together to work on the development of innovative new manufacturing technologies and products.
It will support manufacturing and engineering firms of all sizes and from all sectors across the country, and internationally, to innovate and grow their businesses.
Diverse manufacturing
Economy secretary Fiona Hyslop, said: “Like many parts of the economy, manufacturing has been adversely affected by the impact of Covid-19.
“But the crisis has also demonstrated why we need a strong manufacturing sector, with many companies contributing to the national effort by re-purposing or scaling-up their activity to supply vital equipment to health and social care, something NMIS has been involved in supporting.
“NMIS will play a central role in our efforts to build a successful, vibrant and diverse manufacturing sector for future generations.
“The award of this contract is a significant milestone, and I look forward to seeing how the new facility will help companies across Scotland to develop their skills, perfect the latest techniques, and push forward with cutting-edge research.”
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, commented: “Completing the rigorous tender process and appointing Morrison Construction to build the flagship National Manufacturing Institute Scotland facility is a highly significant step forward in the ongoing development of the NMIS group of world-class industrial research facilities.
“As the anchor University for NMIS, Strathclyde continues to work in close partnership with industrial, academic and public sector partners.
“Together we are making great strides towards creating the future of advanced manufacturing in Scotland, applying leading research capabilities to drive industrial innovation and supporting the country’s talented manufacturing and engineering sector.”
Eddie Robertson, managing director of Morrison Construction Central, added: “We are delighted to be working once more with our partners at the University of Strathclyde to deliver this important facility.
“It is always a privilege to be involved with a scheme such as this one that will transform manufacturing as we know it in Scotland.”
The build of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland facility is expected to commence as soon as possible after current guidance around non-essential construction work is revised.
It is expected to be completed around 18 months after build work commences.
