Aston University - European Bioenergy Research Institute - 2 Floors - U/C

[NeilM]

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/N...DAURI=PLANNING





News article about it back in March 2011.
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/news/r...-technologies/



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

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

[Erebus555]

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.

[GrAfiK_248]

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

[woodhousen]

Originally Posted by Erebus555

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!

[NeilM]

Couple of photos from the front.

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Photo0185.jpg by NeilM28, on Flickr

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Photo0187.jpg by NeilM28, on Flickr

[ellbrown]

My pics of here from January 2011

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Aston University - Former Delicia Cinema and The Sacks of Potatoes by ell brown, on Flickr

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Aston University - Former Delicia Cinema by ell brown, on Flickr

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Aston University - Former Delicia Cinema by ell brown, on Flickr

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Aston University - Former Delicia Cinema by ell brown, on Flickr

[NeilM]

Continuing demolition:

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Photo0206 by NeilM28, on Flickr

[ellbrown]

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

[NeilM]

Yep, that is all they are keeping.

[ellbrown]

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

[NeilM]

Looks like they are almost done.

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Photo0207 by NeilM28, on Flickr

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Photo0208 by NeilM28, on Flickr

[sefton66]

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

[NeilM]

Originally Posted by sefton66

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.

[sefton66]

Ahh cheers Neil ive got an idea whereabouts now

[ellbrown]

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

[NeilM]

Another update:

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Photo0212 by NeilM28, on Flickr

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Photo0213 by NeilM28, on Flickr

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Photo0214 by NeilM28, on Flickr

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Photo0215 by NeilM28, on Flickr

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Photo0216 by NeilM28, on Flickr

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Photo0217 by NeilM28, on Flickr

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Photo0218 by NeilM28, on Flickr

[NeilM]

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/r...energy-centre/

[ellbrown]

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

Could see the ground breaker.

[NeilM]

Small mobile crane lifting steel into place today:

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Untitled by NeilM28, on Flickr

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Untitled by NeilM28, on Flickr

[NeilM]

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

6th March:
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Untitled by NeilM28, on Flickr

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Untitled by NeilM28, on Flickr

12th March:
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Untitled by NeilM28, on Flickr

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Untitled by NeilM28, on Flickr