Barnsley College has appointed BAM Construction to deliver two new structures under a £21 million contract. It follows the Leeds-based contractor’s recent announcement of a £100 million ‘wave’ of new work across Yorkshire.
BAM will create a Sixth Form Centre in the heart of the Yorkshire town, as well as a Construction Centre on the College’s Honeywell campus.
The project will ensure students have state-of-the-art facilities to study both vocational and academic subjects.
Four storeys high, the Sixth Form Centre will house a mixture of classrooms and lecture theatres on the former site of empty shops and a council library, which has been relocated. Meanwhile the two-storey Construction Centre will allow pupils to learn and practise traditional trades such as brickwork, plumbing and decorating, together with new green technology skills.
Aiming for Excellent ratings through environmental initiative BREEAM, the projects will both feature air source heat pumps and photovoltaic cells.
BAM, which has offices in Leeds, will ensure students at the College are able to benefit from the construction project as well as from the finished buildings.
Building work is due to start on site in July 2014, with completion and handover by September 2015.
BAM construction director John Phillips said: “We look forward to delivering these new facilities for Barnsley College, which will give young people in the town 21 st Century learning environments whether they wish to go down an academic or a vocational route. “The Construction Centre in particular is close to our hearts, and we will be creating building works within the building to allow practical lessons and demonstrations in the future. “BAM will be working as always to ensure our work benefits the local environment and economy as well as the end users.”
Andrew Fairest, Barnsley College’s Vice Principal for Property Development, said: “The College is looking forward to working with BAM.
“These exciting new developments will enable us to continue to provide world class facilities and excellent teaching and learning environments for our students.”
BAM recently started work on a £20m leisure centre scheme in Bridlington. It is also working on Huddersfield Sports Centre, Bradford College, and recently completed the Leeds Arena.
