Fletcher Building’s subsidiary Fletcher Construction has secured a $216m contract from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand to construct stage one of the latter’s Regional Science and Innovation Centre (RSIC).
Designed to be earthquake resilient, the proposed 20,000m² building will be the first of two buildings planned for the university’s Regional Science and Innovation Centre.
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Set for completion in March 2017, the new building will accommodate research laboratories, as well as teaching and support facilities for five science departments and schools.
Fletcher Construction chief executive Graham Darlow said: "We are excited to bring our specialist knowledge to this project being currently involved in new science and technology buildings for two other New Zealand tertiary institutions."
According to the University of Canterbury, the overall project will provide 25,000m² of new accommodation for the College of Science across two buildings.
The centre will offer teaching spaces such as research laboratories and support facilities, which would provide teaching, research and support space for the School of Biological Sciences, the departments of chemistry, geography, geological sciences and physics and astronomy.
University of Canterbury vice-chancellor Dr Rod Carr said: "Future students can look forward to having modern, open science facilities.
"Well-designed spaces can make a huge difference to engagement and learning outcomes.
"The new science facilities should help to improve students’ learning experiences and to equip them to tackle such important future problems, as well as to thrive in modern collaborative workplaces."
Image: RSIC project will provide 25,000m² of new accommodation for the College of Science. Photo: courtesy of University of Canterbury.
