Major milestone marked in net zero development

Teesside University’s Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC) is nearing completion with ambitious initiatives in place to achieve a net zero development.

A “topping out” event was held to mark the roof being completed as the building reaches its final stages.

The £13.1m industry-led NZIIC, based at the expanding Tees Valley Net Zero Innovation Hub, is due to open in the coming months and the University has worked closely with main contractor Robertson Construction to implement a wide range of sustainable building standards.

A zero-waste initiative, reduced carbon footprint, use of recyclable materials and a living roof are just some of the measures helping to ensure the building achieves its net zero target.

The NZIIC received £5.2m in funding from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority and the European Regional Development Fund. The building will support the ongoing drive for clean energy and position Teesside firmly at the heart of the UK’s green industrial revolution.

Robertson Construction was appointed as the main contractor as its commitment to being socially, economically and environmentally responsible fits perfectly with the ethos of the development.

The NZIIC will play a vital role in the delivery of net zero ambitions for the region and the UK. It will be a hub for industrial decarbonisation and a national centre of excellence for net zero technologies, providing a focus for major investment and creating hundreds more clean energy jobs.

Gari Harris, Director of the NZIIC, said: “The innovation and commitment demonstrated by Robertson Construction aligns with our own values as Teesside University is committed to becoming a net zero institution by 2030. The NZIIC development is a testament to those ambitions.

“It is a pleasure to see the development progressing so successfully and we are looking forward to harnessing our research expertise within the NZIIC to deliver clear impact across environmental and business sustainability.”

Garry Hope, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction North East, said: “Working with a customer who embraces what it means to build net zero has been a pleasure and a fantastic learning experience for the team. Teesside University will use this facility to position the region as a leader in the UK’s green revolution and we are honoured to have been its construction partner of choice.

“Robertson is working hard to reduce its environmental impact and I am sure that in the coming years we will be using technologies developed in this centre as we continue our own path to decarbonisation.”

The NZIIC is one of the projects in Teesside University’s ongoing campus masterplan, which has seen £280m invested to date – including the award-winning Student Life Building, Cornell Quarter student accommodation and National Horizon’s Centre at the University’s Darlington Campus.

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