WORK has started on a £14 million state-of-the-art Advanced Engineering Building at the University of Brighton.

Construction of what will be one of the world’s leading engineering research centres is due for completion in the spring of next year.

The building, at the university’s Moulsecoomb campus in Brighton, will extend the university’s Advanced Engineering Centre, which works with a range of local engineering companies on innovative research in partnership with the automotive industry to allow for industrial knowledge-exchange.

The project will establish specialist teaching facilities alongside cutting-edge research laboratories. With the university’s long-term partner Ricardo, the Shoreham-based global engineering, strategic and environmental consultancy and specialist manufacturer, a dedicated combustion engine research area will be established on the ground floor alongside modern engineering workshops to support undergraduate and postgraduate engineering.

One of the Centre’s key focus areas is research into internal combustion engine thermal efficiency which will focus on research into low-carbon internal combustion systems.

Attending the ceremony was Kelly Smith, a foundation year engineering student who is benefitting from working on the site whilst undertaking her course.

Professor Debra Humphris, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, said at the groundbreaking ceremony: “This is a fantastic development between our partners Ricardo and the Government’s Local Enterprise Partnership funding.

“What this exemplifies is universities and industrial partners working not just to generate outstanding research and education opportunities, but to make a real impact on the economy.”

The Advanced Engineering Centre is part of the £150 million transformation of the Moulsecoomb campus the university is working in partnership with GRAHAM Construction.