Preferred bidder for National Graphene Institute selected

06 Jun 2013

BAM Construction has been chosen to build the University’s high-profile £61m National Graphene Institute.

The University has selected BAM as the preferred bidder for the £30m design and build construction contract.

The NGI, funded by research council EPSRC and the European Regional Development Fund, will be dedicated to finding commercial uses for graphene – the strongest, thinnest and most conductive material ever measured – which was first isolated by Professors Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov in 2004.

With its main entrance on Booth Street East, the NGI will be housed within a compact 7,600 square metre five-storey building, with a 1,500 square metre research lab for graphene scientists to collaborate with their colleagues from industry and other UK universities. This clean-room will be located on the lower ground floor for minimal vibration. The building will also include a second clean-room, plus laser, optical, metrology and chemical laboratories, seminar room and offices and ancillary accommodation.

Work is set to start on site later this year with completion in 2015.