OREANDA-NEWS. Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has won a GBP 17 million contract to design and build a three-storey development at the University of York's Campus East.

The 'Piazza Learning Centre' will house teaching facilities and learning spaces, as part of a GBP 27 million scheme on the campus. The project, Interserve's second with the University of York, will feature 36 flexible learning spaces, including two laboratories, a 350-seat auditorium, a 100-seat lecture theatre, a 300-seat restaurant, as well as staff areas and offices spread across 6,800 m2.

The new building will be used by the University's International Pathway College (IPC), as well as providing additional teaching space for Campus East. The International Pathway College, a joint venture between the University of York and Kaplan, provides academic preparation programmes for international students prior to them progressing to their undergraduate and postgraduate studies within the University.

Dr Matthew Perry, Director of the International Pathway College (IPC), said: "This will be a fantastic teaching and learning space for staff and students and is indicative of the scale of ambition at the University of York and our confidence in the IPC's ability to attract students from all over the world.  We're already looking forward to moving in."

Work on site has now begun, with project completion due in November 2017. Interserve hopes to achieve a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) 'Very Good' rating for the project.

John Gittins, divisional director at Interserve, said:

"We are looking forward to further strengthening our relationship with the University of York as it continues to both expand and renew its facilities.  At Interserve we are committed to investing in the communities in which we work and we will be continuing to engage with the local supply chain as well as creating new job opportunities for local people".