This week sees a milestone in Bradford College’s accommodation strategy – the handing over of the keys to its Phase 1 building, Trinity Green.
HBG Construction, who started the construction of Trinity Green in April 2007, completed the new £20 million building on target and handed over the keys to Bradford College this week. Trinity Green will open its doors to new learners from September 2008.
Bradford College’s accommodation strategy is part of a wider four-year Strategic Plan, the objective of which is to position the college as one of the most innovative education providers in the country by 2012. The college is hoping to achieve this by developing bold new buildings and providing courses that meet employment needs in state-of-the-art learning environments.
Phase 1 of the accommodation strategy building involved the redevelopment of the former McMillan Halls on Trinity Road into an innovatively designed building which will contain Construction, Engineering and Sports curriculum areas. Trinity Green will provide modern workshops; staff and student break-out areas; Wi-Fi technology; extensive learning resource areas; and student services. New sporting facilities will include a 1000m² sports hall; sports and fitness laboratories; a fitness testing suite; a dedicated sport theory room; an aerobics and dance studio complete with fully sprung wooden floor; multi-use games area; 2 basketball courts designed to Sport England standard; three 5-a-side pitches; and a full size football pitch that will be made available for community use.
The college’s new sports facilities now feature in the London Organising Committee Pre-Games Training Camp Guide for the Olympics in 2012.
Michele Sutton, Principal and Chief Executive of Bradford College comments, “We’re delighted to have reached this milestone in our 4 year Accommodation Strategy, on time and on budget. We will be completing the furnishing of Trinity Green throughout the summer break, in time to open the doors to our Construction, Engineering and Sports students from the beginning of September. Our plans for Phase Two are under way now. Bradford College’s new, iconic campus will add to the regeneration of the area. I am really proud of what we are doing in terms of skills regeneration and Bradford should be really proud of Bradford College.”
Maud Marshall, Chief Executive of Bradford Centre Regeneration said, “The completion of phase 1 of the ambitious extension plan for Bradford College is a milestone in the college’s £140m accommodation strategy. The college is an integral part of the innovative Learning Quarter and the city’s regeneration as a whole, so this latest development is a major step forward in adding to the vibrant and thriving academic community that the city already enjoys.”
Phase 2 of the Accommodation Strategy will focus on the creation a new city centre campus site where the Westbrook and Randall Well Buildings and Alexandra car park are currently situated, of which an application in principle to the Learning and Skills Council for funding for Phase 2 has recently been submitted.