Work starts on new development at Wrexham University

The university is currently undertaking it's Campus 2025 strategy - an £80 million investment project to improve and revitalise facilities across the University’s four campuses.

As part of that, work is currently ongoing to complete the Enterprise Engineering and Optics Centre on site in Wrexham. Another part of the project is enhancing the University’s Health and Education Innovation Quarter (HEIQ), which officially opened at the beginning of last year.

Today (Wednesday), a turf cutting ceremony to celebrate the start of the works on the next phase of the HEIQ took place at the university, with staff coming together with stakeholders and partners to mark the occasion.

The next phase will take the institution to even further heights – once again, ensuring that industry-leading technology is available to students’ by creating a new immersive teaching environment, which will allow for a combination of both virtual and augmented reality.

Providing students with industry-leading technology and encouraging interprofessional working, in order to prepare them for their chosen professional fields, is going to be the driving force behind the next major campus development taking place at Wrexham University.

There will also be construction of a Teaching and Learning Lab and a Hydrasimulation Suite – which is being developed in conjunction with the Hydra Foundation – that will help students with their critical decision-making skills, through simulation of emergency situations, as well as student centred study spaces and a new café.

An artists impression of the project (Image: Wrexham University)

Construction of this next phase is being carried out by North Wales-based, Wynne Construction, following a competitive tender process and is expected to be completed late in 2025.

Dr Caroline Hughes, associate dean for student engagement at Wrexham University, said: “We are delighted to share this exciting progress regarding our next phase of the HEIQ – and were thrilled to welcome partners and stakeholders to celebrate work on this next phase officially getting underway.

“This next phase will see us continue to strive forward when it comes to providing our students with technology enhanced, immersive learning experiences using devices and software, that will help prepare them for their chosen professions and work collaboratively, as they would in the professional environment.

“These new facilities will enable significant enhancement in our students’ learning experience, and will allow for increased opportunities for interprofessional working.”

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Paul Moran, capital projects manager at Wrexham University, said: “We are pleased to have appointed North Wales-based, Wynne Construction as the main contractor of this project, who possess an excellent track record in education works in North Wales and beyond.  

“This next phase of our HEIQ is going to make a real impact on our students’ overall experience and learning.”

Chris Wynne, managing director of Wynne Construction, added: “We’re thrilled to be building another educational facility that will provide students with a state-of-the-art and innovative learning experience.

“We’re also looking forward to continuing our working relationship with Wrexham University and delivering the associated social value benefits such as work experience and opportunities for site visits.”