Work has started on preparation for building the European Bioenergy Research Institute.

The old bookshop/conference centre is being demolished, with just the fascia kept.

The latest amended PA number is 2010/02261/PA

http://eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=429908&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/BirminghamNew/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/BirminghamNew/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING



http://www1.aston.ac.uk/EasySiteWeb/getresource.axd?AssetID=92546&type=full&servicetype=Inline&customSizeId=0

News article about it back in March 2011.
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/news/releases/2011/march/165m-engineering-laboratories-to-develop-low-carbon-technologies/



Also found this interesting video which details the planned redevelopments up to 2020.

http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/campus-redevelopment/

That video is very exciting - there's a lot there to look forward to. The two potential redevelopment sites are particularly exciting given their strategic locations on the edges of main routes to the city centre. It will be interesting to see whether these will be sold off to private developers or used by the university.

Well hope those potential sites aren't left 'potential' for too long....sucks having so much of that video about demolition..

That video is very exciting - there's a lot there to look forward to. The two potential redevelopment sites are particularly exciting given their strategic locations on the edges of main routes to the city centre. It will be interesting to see whether these will be sold off to private developers or used by the university.

great minds ay... see my post in the aston university phase 2 thread!

Couple of photos from the front.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6036/6307190621_7fdc7a1080_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6307190621/)
Photo0185.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6307190621/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/6307713482_d5d94ff999_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6307713482/)
Photo0187.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6307713482/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

My pics of here from January 2011

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5164/5373613626_5d4b883f77_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/5373613626/)
Aston University - Former Delicia Cinema and The Sacks of Potatoes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/5373613626/) by ell brown (http://www.flickr.com/people/ell-r-brown/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5373013953_05d490a4fb_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/5373013953/)
Aston University - Former Delicia Cinema (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/5373013953/) by ell brown (http://www.flickr.com/people/ell-r-brown/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5373013349_099490f31d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/5373013349/)
Aston University - Former Delicia Cinema (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/5373013349/) by ell brown (http://www.flickr.com/people/ell-r-brown/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5373611426_d8a3459b66_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/5373611426/)
Aston University - Former Delicia Cinema (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/5373611426/) by ell brown (http://www.flickr.com/people/ell-r-brown/), on Flickr

Continuing demolition:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6019/6329145341_1d47b15e39_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6329145341/)
Photo0206 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6329145341/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

Are they keeping the facade of the former cinema, and nothing else?

Yep, that is all they are keeping.

Looks like the first floor is going. Was that not original then?

Looks like they are almost done.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6333075830_6311bd32e2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6333075830/)
Photo0207 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6333075830/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6332320737_45636d21b8_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6332320737/)
Photo0208 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6332320737/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

Where exactly this is? I've never seen it before

Where exactly this is? I've never seen it before

It's next to the Sack of Potatoes pub on Aston Uni's campus, just off Woodcock Street.

Ahh cheers Neil ive got an idea whereabouts now:)

I suppose that if you are on Aston Street, then the Business School hides it from view.

Another update:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6100/6335037573_e4eb0a2a48_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335037573/)
Photo0212 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335037573/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6104/6335795296_be2bc0ff68_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335795296/)
Photo0213 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335795296/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6059/6335796222_0ffd7b9cce_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335796222/)
Photo0214 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335796222/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6042/6335041165_c5389f3455_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335041165/)
Photo0215 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335041165/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/6335799032_c63a1a06c3_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335799032/)
Photo0216 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335799032/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6216/6335800272_a63fe1dd0c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335800272/)
Photo0217 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335800272/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6335045415_9d3c13eee7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335045415/)
Photo0218 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6335045415/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

Story on Aston Uni's site regarding the starting of this development:

Construction underway at £16.5m bioenergy centre

15 November 2011



Building work has started at Aston University’s new £16.5m engineering laboratories, which will showcase and develop renewable low carbon technologies.

Contractors John Sisk and Son and Aston University held a ground breaking event with key representatives, to mark the beginning of work on the European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI).

The facility, funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Aston University, itself powered by renewable energy, will include pilot scale photo bioreactors harnessing algae, and a 0.4MWel small scale industrial power plant. The Plant will generate heat and power from biomass, including sewage sludge, wood, algae and agricultural waste.

John Sisk & Son will be constructing the new building on Aston University’s campus in Birmingham. The contract, worth £7.5m will take approximately 54 weeks to complete and will involve fitting the extensive mechanical and electrical installations required for the biomass plant and the specialist equipment needed for its bioenergy research. This research will include generating biomass by-products including hydrogen power for low carbon vehicles or fuel cells and Biochar for use as an agricultural fertiliser and a source for decentralised hydrogen production.

The new EBRI building will use the best of old and new in its design, retaining the original building’s historic 1920s façade and combining with modern glass fronted laboratories. The EBRI building was originally a cinema and later became the BBC’s regional drama studios in the 1940s.

Professor Andreas Hornung, Director of the European Bioenergy Research Institute, said: “EBRI’s new £16.5m laboratories will showcase to industry how we can produce real-life solutions to tackling waste, with both environmental and financial benefits. One of our long-term research aims is to create a ‘thermal ring’ of small scale industrial power plants around Birmingham. This could divert biodegradable waste away from landfill and incineration and feed energy back into the National Grid.”

Steve Carden, Director of Regions for John Sisk & Son, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for our Birmingham team. Not only will we be delivering a challenging project that requires some highly specialist skills but we have the chance to contribute to the University’s work towards developing low carbon technologies. As a family owned and run company we are committed to working in a sustainable way and it’s great to be part of such a pioneering project.”

http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/news/releases/2011/november/construction-bioenergy-centre/

I was thinking of getting pics, but I will leave them to you NeilM

Could see the ground breaker.

Small mobile crane lifting steel into place today:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6689309221_bd2f222209_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6689309221/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6689309221/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6689310867_1eb1e801d9_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6689310867/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6689310867/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

Steel really started to progress over the last couple of weeks.

6th March:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/6957607745_c3ea022487_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6957607745/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6957607745/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6811501956_0be3f919a2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6811501956/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6811501956/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

12th March:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/6979044443_190b0cf68e_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6979044443/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6979044443/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6979045357_365fd75355_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6979045357/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6979045357/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

cheers for the update Neil, steelworks flying up now!

Another render from associated architects website
http://www.associated-architects.co.uk/files/images/pageimage/321.bda34685/99999x490.fit.jpg

^^ I'm not usually a fan of Associated Architects (no offence meant towards them) but that above, I actually quite like.

When Arena Central gets started I really hope something similar but on a much, much larger scale (maybe 10 storeys high) is done with the former Lloyds Bank building on Broad St.

When Arena Central gets started I really hope something similar but on a much, much larger scale (maybe 10 storeys high) is done with the former Lloyds Bank building on Broad St.


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xPVed9zyg_A/T0-a0iK9pMI/AAAAAAAAAdo/aFBjbuSsbtE/s640/001.jpg


http://eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning Applications On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=561989&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/BirminghamNew/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning Application Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/BirminghamNew/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING



Not the right place - but might be of interest?

Crane been up for about a week and a half, been an orange one most of this week though.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7076/6859795738_98a43b99e6_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6859795738/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljmurray/6859795738/) by NeilM28 (http://www.flickr.com/people/neiljmurray/), on Flickr

I really do like this design. Very different.

Aston University eco project 'could create 1,000 jobs'
by Jon Griffin, Birmingham Post May 31 2012

More than 1,000 West Midland jobs could be created through a new Aston University eco-friendly product – with the aid of sewage and other waste.

Researchers from the European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI) at Aston University have developed an innovative bioenergy solution that uses waste products to generate cost-effective heat and power.

Experts at the university say the initiative could help reduce the world’s reliance on fossil fuels.

The market opportunities of the equipment – called a Pyroformer and developed by Professor Andreas Hornung of EBRI – also offer business benefits to the West Midlands region.

It is anticipated that 35 jobs will be directly safeguarded or created and over 1,000 indirect jobs created in the West Midlands as a result.

Experts say the Pyroformer overcomes many of the problems other renewable energy solutions have generated.

Tests have shown that unlike other bioenergy plants, the Pyroformer has no negative environmental or food security impacts.

It can use multiple waste sources including sewage, algae and household wastage and does not require the destruction of rainforests or the use of agricultural land for the growth of specialist bioenergy crops.

And one of its byproducts, biochar, can even be used as a fertiliser to increase crop yields.

As well as generating heat and power, the Pyroformer also dramatically reduces the amount of material sent to landfill.

Professor Andreas Hornung, Head of the European Bioenergy Research Institute at Aston University, said: “This Pyroformer is the first of its kind in the UK and the first industrial scale plant is now up and running at Harper Adams University College before it is permanently installed on the Aston campus later this year.

“We are delighted with the tests taking place at Harper Adams which are demonstrating that this really is a low carbon, renewable and sustainable energy source.

“This is about more than energy provision. We believe this bioenergy technology could be a key stimulator of growth and jobs.”



Read More http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/businesslatest/2012/05/31/aston-university-eco-project-could-create-1-000-jobs-65233-31087921/#ixzz1wZGU2cSP

A few from today.....

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k638/johnbirmingham/4th%20october%202012/DSCF4429.jpg

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k638/johnbirmingham/4th%20october%202012/DSCF4431.jpg

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k638/johnbirmingham/4th%20october%202012/DSCF4430.jpg

thanks for the update BDE:)

Saw this for the first time today, Good Friday (I dont often go in to Aston University).

I must say it is looking very nice

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv10/guilbert53/AE002_zps480a7553.jpg

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv10/guilbert53/AE001_zps7f50fd9f.jpg

Looks good but is that really exposed fibrous insulation board and fixings behind the clear class panels?

Excuse MSP's shaky hands!

http://s12.postimg.org/7o0n65s8t/IMG_0263sm.jpg

That ramp ruins the whole look. :ohno:

How could any architect allow a 7 foot wall in front of this?

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv10/guilbert53/AE002_zps480a7553.jpg

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv10/guilbert53/AE001_zps7f50fd9f.jpg

Sadly, a legislative necessity for the correct gradient for disabled access.