In September 2016 Howard Civil Engineering returned to the University of York, this time to support Interserve in their £17m contract to design and build a three-storey development at Campus East. It was our fifth visit to the campus having previously worked with BAM, VINCI Construction and Sir Robert McAlpine on the site.

The Piazza Learning Centre houses teaching facilities and learning spaces as part of a £27m scheme on the campus. The project, Interserve’s second with the University of York, features 36 flexible learning spaces – including two laboratories-, a 350-seat auditorium, a 100-seat lecture theatre and a 300-seat restaurant, as well as staff areas and offices spread across 6,800m².

The building is used by the University’s International Pathway College (IPC), as well as providing additional teaching space for Campus East. The International Pathway College, a joint venture between the University of York and Kaplan, provides academic preparation programmes for international students prior to them progressing to their undergraduate and postgraduate studies within the University.