It is understood that a number of contractors involved in the project, heralded as a ground-breaking eco-friendly scheme, are together claiming up to £4m. The specialists claim that they are owed the money for extra work as a result of what they say was poor detailed design by the architect.
One specialist said: “Conceptually, the designs are fantastic.” However, he added that, in his opinion, the designs were insufficiently detailed, and that that had caused additional work.
It is understood that a number of design problems arose on site with the buildings’ environment-friendly red cedar cladding system.
The contractors involved in the cladding, Gee Joinery and Express Glazing Contractors, refused to comment.
Another specialist claiming money on the project said: “We’re in discussion with the university about the matter and hopefully we’ll all part on good terms, but at the moment, they are refusing to pay up.”
A number of specialists told Building they were in talks with lawyers and would take legal action if the issue was not resolved in the next month.
Nottingham University refused to comment.
A spokeswoman for Hopkins said: “The University of Nottingham has been an excellent client. Subcontractors were paid regularly throughout the contract, and, in some cases, in advance of the university’s contractual obligations.”
She declined to comment on the specific allegations made.
Another specialist said: “We bent over backwards to ensure that the project was completed on time, despite the fact that it fell behind schedule through no fault of our own. Now the job is finished, there is an unwillingness on the part of the client to recognise the extra work we have had to put in on this scheme.”
A spokesperson for project construction manager Bovis Lend Lease confirmed that there were a number of outstanding claims but added that they were being dealt with. The campus was officially opened by the Queen in September.
