Henry Boot delivers Compass building
Work has been completed on a 29,700 sq ft facility, which will be home to a ‘Composites at Speed and Scale’ R&D hub at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.
Located next to the AMRC’s flagship Factory 2050 within the advanced manufacturing innovation district, the £80m facility will be an open-access resource aiming to meet demand for lighter commercial aircraft in the aviation industry’s drive towards carbon reduction.
The building itself has been awarded a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and is integrated into Sheffield’s district heating network, run by Veolia.
As lead contractor on the scheme, which started on site in November last year, Henry Boot Construction worked closely with local supply chain partners on the project, including Sheffield-based MEP firm Elecomm.
Tony Shaw, managing director of Henry Boot Construction, said: “We are pleased to have successfully delivered this world-class facility in partnership with the University of Sheffield and our regional supply chain.
“Our work on the AMRC further strengthens our long-standing relationship with the university and demonstrates our commitment to delivering truly innovative projects.
“We are particularly proud to have built a facility that will be used by some of the world’s largest manufacturing brands, helping to drive our economy forward and create more high-quality jobs in the region.”
Ground was broken in November 2023. Credit: via Altitude
Emma Hutton, AMRC director of major projects, said: “This new facility represents a significant milestone in the UK’s aerospace and manufacturing sector, offering a unique opportunity for industry partners to access cutting-edge equipment and expertise.
“This is a collaborative R&D environment which will foster innovation and accelerate technological advancements, contributing to the nation’s economic growth and global competitiveness.”
The new facility has been jointly funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council, the University of Sheffield and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
It will house a raft of advanced-manufacturing equipment secured through a £29.5m grant from the UK Government’s Aerospace Technology Institute Programme.
The first programme to be undertaken in the new space is a project on isothermic high-rate sustainable structures, led by global aerospace giant Boeing in partnership with AMRC, Loop Technology and Spirit AeroSystems.
