Kier has begun work on a new £123m teaching and learning building for the University of Southampton.

The construction of the North East Quadrant (NEQ) will transform the university’s Highfield Campus, adding new facilities integrating academic and social spaces. 

Constructed over five floors, the 15,000 sqm building will include a range of lecture theatres, event teaching spaces, seminar rooms and areas for independent study.

Social and wellbeing facilities include a café, changing facilities, nursing room and a variety of indoor and outdoor social spaces.

Located at the edge of campus, the building has been designed to form part of a new entrance to the university.

Cheryl Ward, managing director of Kier Construction Southern, said: “We are delighted to get started on our works for the University of Southampton.

“This marks an important milestone for this project, which will deliver new educational facilities and learning spaces for students studying at the university.

“Our team has worked closely with the university to bring their vision of a sustainable, state-of-the-art building to life and positively impact the day-to-day lives of those who work and study there. 

“With a dedicated team based less than five miles from the university, we are proud to support this project with the very best of our local talent and expertise."

The project has been designed to deliver the university’s most sustainable building to date, in line with its Sustainability Strategic Plan, and with an aim to meet BREEAM Excellent standards.

A ground-breaking event was held at the site recently and marks Kier’s continued track record of delivering higher education projects across the country, including the University of Derby Business School, the University of Huddersfield National Health Innovation Campus and the Degree Apprenticeship Centre at Warwick University.