Hartpury marks construction milestone at new catering hub project
Vitruvius Management Services and Barnwood Construction joined Hartpury University and Hartpury College to mark a special milestone in the construction of a new catering and conference facility, set to for completion this summer.
The ‘topping out ceremony’ took place as the building officially reached its highest point. Topping out ceremonies continue a long-held and historic tradition of celebrating completion of the tallest point of construction.
The multi-use space, comprising of two-storeys of flooring across 2,347m2 and an external seating area, has been designed by architects Roberts Limbrick and constructed by Barnwood. Graze, as it's known, will be a modern facility with state-of-the-art technology and a focus on sustainability. In addition to food and drink outlets, a comfortable seating area makes it the ideal place to meet and catch up with friends, colleagues, and lecturers, or is perfect for a little extra study time. To the first floor, flexible classrooms with moveable walls create a dynamic learning and conference experience ideal for socialising, teaching and industry events.
The building will be ready for the new academic year in September.
Russell Marchant, Vice-Chancellor, Principal and CEO of Hartpury, said: “Today marks an important landmark in the project timeline and I’m thrilled to see the building taking shape. This exciting new facility will improve our ability to offer students greater food choices and a dynamic learning space.
“We’d like to thank our partners at Roberts Limbrick, Barnwood Construction and Vitruvius Management Services for their hard work so far in helping us realise our ambition for this building.”
Ben Ramsay, Managing Director at Barnwood Construction - the main contractor for the project, said: "This is a fantastic project for our company, working at the heart of the bustling Hartpury campus. We’ve reached this major milestone working collaboratively with the team and are delighted to be progressing well from this platform to deliver Hartpury their brand-new facility."
Mark Price, Managing Director of Vitruvius Management Services – the project lead, said: “We’re pleased to be able to share this construction milestone with our client Hartpury, Barnwood and the wider team. I look forward to the delivery of this modern facility to future-proof Hartpury’s built environment, supporting the high-quality education establishment to fulfil their strategic vision.”
Hartpury continues to invest in campus developments to improve the overall student experience. In 2022, a new £730,000 Equine and Animal Assisted Activity Area was launched, ahead of a new £500,000 equine hydrotherapy centre set to open in the summer. A state-of-the-art University Learning Hub will launch in for the 2023-24 academic year, featuring group-work pods, quiet study zones and contemporary classrooms.
