Welcome to Springfield - the University of Wolverhampton opens its latest super campus offer

The University of Wolverhampton formally opened its £45 million School of Architecture and Built Environment at the Springfield super campus on 19 October 2020.

The new building, delivered by ISG and designed by Birmingham based Associated Architects, is the latest addition to the University’s £100m investment in a new construction excellence campus at the former brewery.

The virtual celebration was live-streamed on YouTube culminating in a link-up to an official ribbon cutting ceremony by the Mayor of Wolverhampton, a University graduate and Councillor Claire Darke.

The event included a virtual tour of the new building as well as an opportunity to hear from graduates and students, construction and industry professionals.

The Minister of State for Universities in the Department of Education, Michelle Donelan MP, the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, Councillor Ian Brookfield, Leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, and Tom Westley, Chair of the Black Country LEP Board, sent messages of support for the ambitious project that will have a major impact on education, skills and the local and regional economy.

Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor, said: "Huge congratulations go out to the University and its partners for its vision and insight. This is a wonderful piece of architecture in its own right. With this kind of expertise in the Built Environment and Brownfield Regeneration, we can lead Britain and the world.”

Professor Mohammed Arif, Head of the School of Architecture and Built Environment at the University said: "This is the dawn of a new era in construction education. We need to think outside of the box and our impact will be outside of the classroom.”

Wayne Flannery, ISG regional director, on delivery of the scheme said: “It has been truly inspiring to be involved in the realisation of this outstanding regeneration project. It is through full stakeholder collaboration that this project has been such a success, enabling an atmosphere of unshakable co-operation to create Europe’s largest built environment campus, in the heart of the UK.”

In another presentation, the ISG project team wanted to thank the University of Wolverhampton client representatives for their support, particularly when navigating the challenges presented by Covid-19 this year. The team donated one of its unused defibrillator machines to be positioned in the School of Architecture and Built Environment for use as a campus wide facility if required.

ISG’s Project Director, Liam Davies, presented the defibrillator to Dr Paul Hampton, Head of Department - Built Environment, at the University of Wolverhampton

Read more about the project here