Mace has taken over a major UCL construction project previously halted by ISG’s collapse, ensuring its completion.
- UCL’s neuroscience building at 256 Grays Inn Road faced uncertainty following ISG’s September insolvency.
- Mace was selected after a rigorous process prioritising quality and will review the project over three months.
- The building will accommodate UCL’s neurological research institutes, adding significant value to the field.
- This takeover follows Mace’s successful completion of another UCL project, demonstrating their reliability.
In the wake of ISG’s administration collapse in September, Mace has stepped in to rescue a stalled £300 million project. Originally awarded to ISG in 2019, the neuroscience building for University College London was meant to be completed last year. ISG’s insolvency, which left projects including the UCL site at 256 Grays Inn Road in limbo, was a significant setback. An UCL spokesperson had expressed disappointment regarding ISG’s financial downfall but highlighted that they had prepared contingencies for such an event.
Mace was appointed to take over the project on 11th November after an extensive review and selection process, underscoring their commitment to quality. Over the next three months, Mace will perform a comprehensive evaluation of the site before finalising their terms, along with updating the timeline for the project’s completion. This phase will also involve examining the roles of current suppliers, ensuring a seamless transition and continuity of work.
Once finished, the site will serve as the centrepiece for multiple prestigious institutes including the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and the UK Dementia Research Institute. The building, spanning 17,500 square metres, will feature state-of-the-art facilities encompassing shared laboratories, workspaces, consulting rooms, and collaboration areas designed to foster innovation. It will also include a 220-seat lecture theatre and an MRI suite equipped with five scanners, setting the stage for cutting-edge research and treatment.
The costs associated with the project have increased by £18 million since the initial planning permission was granted in September 2019, reflecting the scale and complexity of the undertaking. Mace’s managing director for the public sector and life sciences, Robert Lemming, emphasised the critical importance of the facility in advancing neurological research and treatment. His sentiments were echoed by UCL’s professor Alan Thompson, who highlighted the project’s national and international significance in transforming patient care.
This decision by UCL aligns with their strategy of entrusting significant projects to Mace, following the contractor’s successful delivery of the £200 million Marshgate campus last year. ISG’s collapse affected numerous developments, and their insolvency left a financial burden exceeding £301 million to their supply chain, marking a stark end for what was once the sixth largest contractor in the UK.
The shift of UCL’s neuroscience project to Mace marks a promising continuation for this significant development in neurological research.
