Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus celebrates topping out

The ceremony marks a key milestone in one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects

University of Bristol's Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus (TQEC), part of one of Europe’s most ambitious regeneration projects, celebrated a major milestone on Thursday, 12 September 2024, with a traditional topping out ceremony. Sir Robert McAlpine hosted the event to mark the completion of the structural framework for the University’s cutting-edge academic building, a centre piece of the largest urban regeneration in the city’s history.

Kerry McCarthy MP, Minister for Climate, Professor Evelyn Welch MBE, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, Professor Judith Squires, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost and Senior Responsible Owner for Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, Barra Mac Ruairi, Chief Property Officer, as well as Hector McAlpine, Executive Partner at Sir Robert McAlpine, were amongst the 300 guests attending the event and led to the top floor of the building by a piper at the start of the ceremony. After a symbolic pouring of a final section of concrete to signify the project’s steady progress, and the traditional exchange of tankards in recognition of a “work well done”, an evergreen bough was nailed to the structure, as an auspicious symbol of longevity and good fortune.

The new six-storey, 38,350 square meter academic building, the first phase of the TQEC development, will become home to 4,600 students and 650 university staff. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, strengthening connections between the University, businesses, and the community, while driving socio-economic growth in Bristol and the wider region.

Architects from Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios), structural and services engineers from Buro Happold, as well as representatives from project management and cost consultant AECOM, key collaborators in the project, attended the event. These teams worked closely with Sir Robert McAlpine throughout the PCSA (pre-construction Services Agreement) period, providing invaluable support in preconstruction activities and procurement, and have since supported University of Bristol and Sir Robert McAlpine in the construction delivery phase.

A particular point of pride for the team has been the development of innovative, low-carbon concrete mix designs in collaboration with Buro Happold and supply chain partner Toureen. These materials have reduced the carbon impact of the project, delivering a CO2 saving of 2,500 tonnes – far exceeding industry average. This accomplishment highlights the project’s commitment to sustainable construction practices and the future of green building in the region.

Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, said: “After many years in the planning the biggest innovation footprint ever made in our city is 1/3 of the way there. It’s great to see how much progress has been made over the last 18 months on site with the new building really taking shape before our eyes. The Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus will be a major new landmark for Bristol and a real catalyst for innovation not just for the city and region, but also nationally. It is being carefully constructed to meet the needs and nurture the aspirations of our students, staff and partners across the city and the wider region.

“It provides outstanding facilities to build on our collective strengths in research, innovation, learning and societal change. By attracting top talent, fostering cutting-edge multidisciplinary research, nurturing start-ups and entrepreneurship, and providing opportunities to work with students and develop talent pipelines, we will attract more international partners to Bristol and help to create a thriving ecosystem that drives economic growth to really compete on the global stage.”

Hector McAlpine, Executive Partner at Sir Robert McAlpine, said “our work to date has placed this project in the best possible position to deliver this ground-breaking facility on time, ready to receive the next generation of students. In doing so, Temple Quarter has transformed, with this project acting as a catalyst for wider regeneration. We are proud to be part of this journey, delivering a legacy through educational programmes, community initiatives and funding, alongside employment opportunities during construction. This aligns with our strong social value objectives”.

Steven Jenkins, director and higher education sector lead at AECOM, said: "This ceremony marks an important milestone for the University of Bristol’s flagship development as well as the city’s wider regeneration plans. To meet the scale and ambition of the project, we’ve utilised AECOM’s extensive capabilities and drawn upon our multi-disciplinary resources and supply chain partners."

“It’s been a pleasure to work in partnership with McAlpine and the University of Bristol – as well as acting as lead consultant under Perfect Circle – and we look forward to helping deliver the full project over the next couple of years. The Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus is a once in a generation project and will have a hugely positive impact on the University and Bristol as a whole, acting as a hub for innovation, collaboration and sustainability in the city.”

Claire Smith, Partner at Buro Happold, said: “Buro Happold are immensely proud to have contributed to this landmark project. It has been a privilege to have worked in such a collaborative team environment to deliver what is already an impressive and impactful building, creating a fitting welcome to the city of Bristol and opening up this area to the East of Temple Meads station. During the construction, the engagement and drive from both the University of Bristol and Sir Robert McAlpine in encouraging educational visits beyond our design team has been greatly appreciated by our own staff, as well as a number of other academic and industry groups, and this adds to our collective pride in this transformative project.”

Mike Keys, Partner at FCBStudios, said: “Congratulations to Sir Robert McAlpine for reaching Topping Out of the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. This project represents a huge collaborative effort to deliver an ambitious vision for the future of our client, the University of Bristol. It is a privilege to see our designs come to life with craft and dedication from the whole team, and share in the celebration of this milestone achievement.” 

The Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus is more than just a physical transformation of the city; it represents a reimagining of Bristol’s future as a global centre for education, business and innovation. By fostering partnerships between the University, the government, local businesses and the community. TQEC is set to become a dynamic destination for change and economic growth.

This milestone ceremony is a testament to the collaborative efforts of all those involved, from construction teams and designers and city planners. As the project progresses towards completion, the TQEC will serve as a world class gateway to the city, solidifying Bristol’s position as a leader in global innovation and economic development.

The project is expected to be completed in the Summer 2026.