WORK on a £1.5m extension to a science unit at Durham University is under way with two construction companies working in partnership.

Bowey Construction, one of the region's largest building contractors, and Faithful and Gould, international project management consultants, were appointed to carry out the work on the extension and refurbishment at the university.

The new building will adjoin the university's science unit, and will provide an extra 500sq metres of research space.

It is being built in brick and will have a metal roof, in keeping with the original 1960s' design of the science building.

The second phase of the scheme will be the refurbishment of the science block, involving the demolition of interior walls to create larger working areas, an upgrade of the electrics and redecoration.

Ian Walker, managing director of Bowey Construction, said: "Due to our extensive experience of working in the education sector, we are able to progress work on a site where students and lecturers still need to go about their daily classes with a minimum amount of disruption."

Faithful and Gould was appointed as quantity surveyor on the project, and as part of a framework agreement which has been in place for the past three years, the company has carried out refurbishment work at St Hild and Bede College as well as building a £3m student accommodation block at Van Mildert college.

Martin Round, director of the company's Newcastle office, said: "This is the third education sector project we have worked on with Bowey and being able to build on previous experience makes for a trouble-free programme for the university - one of our key clients."

The project - expected to take nine months - is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council and the Special Scientific Research Fund.

Published: 11/05/2004