Willmott Dixon is further expanding its workload in the science and technology sector with a £20m contract to build Wales’ first science park, located in Anglesey.
It comes as the builder is about to hand over a new home for the Met office’s supercomputer in Exeter, which is 13 times more powerful than the current system used by the Met Office.
Willmott Dixon also recently built the world’s leading satellite testing facility at Harwell Science Campus in Oxfordshire and the world’s quietest building at the University of Cambridge. The contractor has now been appointed by M-SParc (Menai Science Park), a subsidiary of Bangor University, to build its science park in Gaerwen.
Work begins this year, with Willmott Dixon teaming up with Faulkner Brown architects and Pwllheli-based Trawscoed Studio. When completed in early 2018 the new hub will provide offices, laboratory and workshop space for up to 700 people.
Phase one will consist of a 55,000-sq. ft., three-storey building, constructed to BREEAM Excellence standards.
The project on the 20-acre site came about after Bangor University secured £10.8m of funding from the Welsh Government and £10.2m of European Regional Development funding.
Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North, said, “The science and technology industry is an important sector for the UK and we are excited about providing cutting-edge facilities for leading businesses and research in North Wales.”
