Engineers thrive on work at universities

Jul 3 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A NATIONWIDE engineering consultancy has landed a raft of contracts in the North East which it said would help to maintain its £11.5m turnover and 157-strong workforce in the region.

Aecom’s North East operation, which was recently rebranded from Faber Maunsell, has started its second quarter in rude health compared with many of its struggling competitors after securing a number of contracts in education, including a programme of works to improve and restore open spaces at Newcastle University.

The first area to benefit from the upgrade is the historic quadrangle, at the heart of the campus. Working closely with landscape architect SLR and against tight time constraints, Aecom will produce detailed designs so that the work can be carried out over three years during the summer vacations.

As part of contractor Balfour Beatty’s professional team, Aecom is also working under preferred contractor status to provide mechanical, electrical, civil and structural design services for the Federation of Priory Academies.

This £50m Building Schools for the Future-funded project, will construct two academies in the next 18 months and refurbish and extend Priory Academy in South Lincoln. In a second appointment, the consultant has been chosen by Durham University to provide mechanical and engineering services under a four-year framework agreement, which will include upgrading its gallery space to take in more high-profile art exhibitions.

Regional director Keith Armstrong now believes the work will enable the firm to maintain its £11.5m turnover without having to make redundancies. He said it was also in the early stages of bidding for an office development worth about £8m in South Tyneside

US company Aecom is a global provider of technical and management support services to a broad range of markets, including transport, environmental and energy, and employs 43,000 people in more than 100 countries.

As well as construction projects, including mechanical and electrical work, the firm also consults on a wide range of environmental and transport contracts.

Mr Armstrong said: “These latest contract wins are a clear demonstration of Aecom’s capability to work for clients as either a sole provider or in a multi-disciplinary capacity.

“We pride ourselves on delivering award-winning solutions which not only create innovative landmark buildings, but leave a low-impact legacy on the environment.

“This is particularly true of the work we have completed for Defra on Lion House, its new zero carbon headquarters in Alnwick.”