G F Tomlinson has started work on a new multi-million pound manufacturing research facility in Nottingham.

A ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on the Advanced Manufacturing Building (AMB) for the University of Nottingham was held on Thursday, 10 November.

The 9,011m2 training and research facility is being developed on a former brownfield site at the University's Jubilee Campus. It forms part of an expansion to the University's Faculty of Engineering and will feature teaching spaces, laboratories, modern workshops and offices for research activities, including nano-scale production, robotics and large-scale aerospace demonstrator components.

The project team features project managers Turner and Townsend, architects Bond Bryan, engineers Arup and cost managers Currie and Brown (previously Sweett).


The development has been part funded by £5 million from D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and a £1 million contribution from the Wolfson Foundation to develop a modern clean room for the investigation of 3D printed pharmaceutical devices.

Once completed, the building will have enough capacity for 699 staff, students and researchers.

Andrew Sewards, Managing Director for G F Tomlinson said: "This scheme truly demonstrates the University of Nottingham's position as a beacon in manufacturing research. The completed scheme will be home to world-class research facilities and revolutionary research activity, helping to nurture collaboration and innovation between education and industry.

"Having successfully delivered a number of schemes previously on the Jubilee Campus, we are excited to be working with the University of Nottingham once again, bringing our expertise in education and large-scale manufacturing buildings, to benefit the university and the city of Nottingham."

Professor Andy Long, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Engineering at the University, added: "The new facility will host several world-leading research groups and accommodate some of the most advanced manufacturing technologies related to automation, precision manufacturing, 3D printing and light weight composite materials."

(LM)