£9m facility boost at college
Calderdale College will be undertaking a multi-million pound building programme on its main campus to create state-of-the-art learning facilities. Co-funded by the College and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership the unlocking Potential Project will allow the College to deliver new courses to meet local skills and employment needs.
Once complete, £9million build will house a Health Industries Learning and Training Facility, in addition to Centres for Creative and Digital Industries and Advanced Manufacturing and Engineer- ing, which will allow the College to provide new courses in games design, video editing, visual effects, computer sciences, dentistry, pharmacy, health, social care, childcare, engineering and manufacturing.
Denise Cheng- Carter, Vice Principal at Calderdale College, said: “This regional investment will enable the College to support the delivery of higher level skills, including higher level apprenticeships to match training to the particular needs of students and businesses as these skills are very much in demand throughout Calderdale and the wider Leeds City Region.”
Work is due to start on the project – designed by Jefferson Sheard Architects – later this month with the project due to be completed in August 2016.
The final stage of the building programme will see the creation of a state-of-the-art Learning Resource Centre (LRC) housing the latest digital technology and print resources to aid learning, and Guests at the ground breaking ceremony at Calderdale College yesterday including, front , from left, Elizabeth Curley of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, college principal John Rees and student union leaders Ainsley Hamilton and Emma Maclachlan. improve digital skills and employability.
The enhanced Learning Resource Centre will significantly enhance the College’s ability to deliver new courses to better meet local skills and employment needs.
Part of the College’s HE provision will be delivered at Dean Clough and the Orangebox in Halifax, over the next year, allowing the College to educate students in the town centre as well as the main campus, Gibbet Street and North Halifax Skills Centre in Ovenden, Halifax. The College has appointed education specialists GRAHAM Construction as the main contractor on its £9-million pound Unlocking Potential Project. Gary Hughes, GRAHAM Construction Regional Director, said: “As an innovative and forward thinking learning provider, Calderdale College recognises the importance of giving students the best environment possible to gain the knowledge and skills that employers are looking for. “GRAHAM are proud to be involved in a project that will create state-of-the-art learning facilities, helping to open up career paths and improve the learning experiences for thousands of students in West Yorkshire. “We look forward to working in partnership with the College, the local community and our project partners to deliver a first-class development.” The building specialists are also in the process of renovating the Piece Hall in Halifax.