£25m University of Wolverhampton science block is on track

It is the latest development helping to transform a city centre skyline and this picture shows how the project is taking shape.

The University of Wolverhampton's former MB building on Stafford Street, Wolverhampton, was demolished last September to make way for a £25 million development. It had stood in the city centre for 60 years.

The new building will include lab facilities for around 2,500 undergraduates and postgraduate students and 150 staff. Passers-by will also be able to view the inside of the building and classes in action through a viewing area from Stafford Street.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Professor Geoff Layer, said the investment would kick-start economic regeneration not only in Wolverhampton, but the wider Black Country.

He said: " This is a really exciting development which illustrates well our commitment to science, engineering and research.

"We are the University for the Black Country, South Staffordshire and Shropshire and we firmly believe that helping economic growth and economic regeneration is our focus."

Students were moved out to allow the project to take place while office staff are in the Gateway@The George development at the city's former Varsity pub.

The scheme, which is being project managed by Faithful and Gould, will see the new building re-open as part of a phased approach, with the first part opening in September and the remainder in December.

Classes will continue in the new multi-million pound block from September.

The wider redevelopment of the university will include a new £11m business school, which has been earmarked for land on the junction of Molineux Street and Camp Street in the city.