Designs have been unveiled for the University of Birmingham’s Rail and Engineering Hub. The centre, which will house engineering and research staff working on new digital innovations for the rail industry, is set to be one of the University’s largest estate projects of the next few years.

The University of Birmingham will be speaking about their plans at the West Midlands Universities Development Plans Conference on the 22nd March – where Birmingham City University and others will also speak.

The development of a new research centre which will focus on digital systems in the rail industry and be based at the Edgbaston institute was launched last month. The centre will house its own dedicated complex on the campus, bringing together numerous staff currently operating in existing but separate buildings.

The designs have been created by Birmingham based practice Associated Architects, with planning consultancy from Turley. The scheme, which is set to open in 2020, will join together the University’s School of Engineering, Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education and teaching staff.

The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research & Education is said to be the largest university-based centre for railway research and education in Europe and its research partnerships see experts working with more than 50 companies in over 20 countries.

In addition, there will be the Digital Systems Innovation Centre to provide office and lab accommodation for third party research and academic partnerships in the rail industry.The Digital Systems Innovation Centre is one of four centres across the country backed by £92 million of government investment and which launched in February.

This will see eight universities team up with businesses to work on developing new products and technology as part of the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network.

While University of Birmingham focuses on the digital sector, the three other centres will look at infrastructure, rolling stock and testing. Among the 17 industry partners supporting the various projects are Alstom, Siemens, Bombardier, Singapore Metro and British Steel.

Join us to hear more about the University’s development plans at the West Midlands Universities Development Plans Conference.