Construction of the University of Bolton’s new National Centre for Motorsport Engineering (NCME) is transforming a four-acre site in the heart of Bolton town. The GB£13m (US$16.75) 45,000 sq.ft. facility, designed by international architects Hassell, is on schedule to welcome its first intake of students this autumn.
Three floors overlooking a central atrium include formal classrooms, technology centres, display areas and space dedicated to businesses; according to the university, the building reflects its commitment to ‘teaching-intensive courses, while working in partnership with industry to best prepare its students for graduate employment opportunities’.
The NCME’s facilities include state-of-the-art engineering and design equipment such as robotic workshops, carbon fiber laboratories and wind tunnels. The centre will also house mutually beneficial, co-operative activities with motorsports and automotive organisations, with students accessing real-world race teams and car manufacturing.
The University of Bolton already provides degree courses through its established Centre for Advanced Performance Engineering (CAPE). The new NCME offers a B.Eng degree for those entering from A Level studies and a B.Sc for BTEC entrants, with both courses equally preparing students for roles in broader engineering fields including automotive and aerospace.
“This is an exciting investment for the university as well as the town, but most significantly for students and industry who want a grounded, motorsports engineering degree,” said professor George E Holmes DL, president and vice chancellor of the University of Bolton. “We are fundamentally committed to providing teaching-intensive education from academics and expert professionals, backed up by real-life experience that leads to employability. The National Centre for Motorsport Engineering is a physical salute to Britain’s heritage in the motorsports and automotive worlds and will be responsible for contributing to their future workforce, both in the UK and abroad.”
