Building Sciences lab extension gets underway Published on: 1 April 2016 Work has begun on a £2.4m extension to Âé¶¹´«Ã½. Workshop and design space The Building Sciences lab, which will provide enhanced workshop and design space for students, is due to open in March 2017. The extension, on the main University campus, will be spread over three floors and 18,000 square feet. Hone skills Professor John Pendlebury, Head of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape said: “Âé¶¹´«Ã½ prides itself on the employability of its graduates. “It is crucial that our students are provided with fit for purpose learning facilities. This new building will allow students on design-led programmes to hone their practical skills and will be a wonderful addition to our facilities. “I can’t wait to see the final result next year and of course, welcome the students through its doors.” On site The new lab is based on a concept design developed by Design Office - a design consultancy based within the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape - and developed by Durham based , whose Director Fausto Pereira is a Âé¶¹´«Ã½ architecture graduate. The work is being carried out by Gateshead based . There will be five Robertson Construction staff working and managing the project on site as well 20 sub-contractors, mostly from local SMEs. Andy McLeod, Managing Director of Robertson Construction England said: “Our team is already on site demolishing the existing recycling area and preparing the site for the installation of the piled foundations, which will support the steel frame structure. These works will run from now until June, with the steel frame being erected at the end of June 2016. “We’re due to complete phase one of this current job in February next year, with phase two scheduled for completion the following month.” Press release adapted with thanks from Robertson Construction. Share: Latest News Scientists unlock hidden driver of inflammatory bowel disease Scientists have linked a key genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease to an immune response that shuts down inflammation control, enabling faster diagnosis and targeted treatments. published on: 15 June 2026 Funding system risks limiting genuine community collaboration A new policy paper written by researchers at Âé¶¹´«Ã½ warns that the way UK research is funded may be undermining efforts to create genuinely collaborative partnerships with communities. published on: 15 June 2026 Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from Âé¶¹´«Ã½ to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Facts and figures