BAM’s Manchester office is expected to begin work in January 2017 and complete for summer 2018.

Located in the heart of Preston city centre, the EIC will be an integrated hub for teaching, research and knowledge exchange, bringing together the region’s expertise from within academia and industry.

It is hoped the planned EIC will reclaim Lancashire’s role as a national centre for advanced manufacturing.

Manchester-based SimpsonHaugh and Partners led on the design in collaboration with Reiach and Hall Architects. BDP, which also has an office in Manchester and was founded in Preston, has provided the engineering expertise for the project.

BAM’s Pre-construction Director, Adrian Blackie, said: “We will bring our national and international expertise to make the project a success, but as a regional team of people from all across the North West we are also passionate about making a difference by creating many employment, training, educational and social opportunities for UCLan students, staff and the wider local community.”

The EIC, which is the first major milestone in UCLan’s £200m Campus Masterplan, has been identified as a signature project within Lancashire’s Strategic Economic Plan and has secured £10.5m via the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s Lancashire ‘Growth Deal’ with Government.

It received a further £5m cash injection from Higher Education Funding Council for England which will go towards equipping the facility to the highest standard with advanced technology and specialist equipment.