WMG Degree Apprenticeship Centre - University of Warwick
The WMG Degree Apprenticeship Centre (DAC) at the University of Warwick focuses on courses essential to the effective development of advanced engineering and manufacturing companies. The Centre, which opened in September 2019, received £10 million from the Government’s Local Growth Fund through the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP). The facility provides training programmes up to Level 8 (Engineering Doctorate level) with an initial capacity for 1,000 students.
The DAC provides flexible teaching and lab space, and an environment for technology-enhanced learning as well as advice and support for apprentices and organisations. The Centre is the first part of a future Degree Apprenticeship complex on the campus training students in a range of Degree Apprenticeships.
We have been an approved furniture supplier to the University since 2006 and currently hold the contract for the sole supply, delivery and installation of day to day furniture, fixtures and equipment to the University for 5 years, with the option to extend for up to a further 5 year period. Over this time we have developed excellent relationships with the project team and our wider contacts at the University.
We were awarded the contract to supply furniture throughout the DAC following a mini competition under the NEUPC Furniture Supply and Installation framework in July 2019. Working in collaboration with the Estates team at the University and Bond Bryan Architects BOF design and furniture specialists we proposed alternative options to the tendered items and worked with the University to suggest finishes and final project specifications to facilitate achieving client vision and aspiration for this prestigious project.
John Roberts, Facilities Manager at WMG, University of Warwick said:
“BOF integrated into the DAC design team seamlessly. As a collaborative group of designers they very quickly developed a full package of furniture that met our outline brief brilliantly and it was the easiest sign off on a capital build project we have had.
The functionality as well as the aesthetics of everything supplied on this contract goes beyond our expectations and makes the whole facility a great place to work and learn in, and with the quality provided it should stay that way for years to come”.
Collaboration areas on every floor throughout the building offer students opportunities for group working in addition to breakout spaces which feature ‘Mote’ soft seating from Senator, ‘Open’ coffee tables from Allermuir and ‘Mega Ped’ tables from Naughtone. Top-Tec ‘Venus’ tables were specified in classrooms creating more flexible I.T and teaching environments.
Following contract award a challenging project program was closely managed to ensure we achieved short lead-times from award to installation completion.
