Over summer, Michael Easton, Principal Building Surveyor, Lancaster University Facilities Division headed a project to replace the Hazelrigg Field Station, initially constructed in 1976, with a new, purpose built teaching & research facility.

The new Hazelrigg Field Station, which is located close to the University’s wind turbine, is a modern research facility containing an office, research & learning facilities, and kitchen space to support a range of research and scientific projects.

The project required demolition of the old field station, which was originally designed as a temporary fitting in the 1970’s. The rebuild took place during August 2019, and the investment provided a significant upgrade of the key electrical supply to the site, supporting essential project work undertaken by a variety of students, staff, and researchers.

Assistant Director of Estates (Operations), Gary Tootle, commented ‘This is a great example of a project being seamlessly managed and delivered with our Faculty Colleagues to ensure that our new facility fully supports the research they undertake’

The site has been a staple of Lancaster Environmental Centre (LEC) research since the initial build was erected, and has been used for a variety of projects including analysing soil core conductivity and exploring data analysis of maximum temperatures with research viewable in published articles and books.

LEC Technical Director, Andy Quin, was complimentary of the works stating:

'After several decades of sterling service the building that services both teaching and research up at the Hazelrigg Field Site clearly needed replacing. Some nifty footwork between Facilities and the end users in LEC resulted in a modern building designed to meet the teaching and research needs of the department was in place in record time.

‘Thanks to Facilities making suitable arrangements we were also able to carry on our research activities during the replacement process including our longstanding daily recording of meteorological data that is used to support some elements of LEC’s research and also the Met Office.'

LEC has already successfully trialled the new building with international students attending a University Summer School and is now ready to deliver in the new academic year.

Lancaster University Facilities Division manage and develop the University’s estate, looking after many campus services. Some of the current building projects underway include LUMS Space Programme, Health Innovation Campus, Library Extension, 400 Seat Lecture Theatre, New Sports Hall, and Edward Roberts Court. More information about the Facilities Division is available online.