New £17m Campus Taking Shape

28th August 2008 10:24am - Return to press releases

East Riding College?s new ?17m Bridlington campus will shortly begin to rise out of the ground as construction reaches its next exciting phase.

Until now, the project has been limited to preparatory and foundation works but people will soon be able to get an idea of what the building will look like as the steel frame is erected.

Contractors Wates are currently on schedule with the building, which is being funded primarily by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

The new College building will be open in August 2009, ready for students starting the 2009/2010 academic year. It is being built on what was the grassed area at the College?s St Mary?s Walk campus. The existing College buildings are staying open as usual during construction and will be taken down when the new ones are completed.

John Doris, the College?s director of resources, said: ?We?re looking forward to seeing the steel frame going up as that?s when the project will suddenly appear to grow.

?The first phases of construction have necessarily been about the less visible works which provide strong foundations for the new campus.

?But over the next few months we?ll start to appreciate how striking and modern our new home in Bridlington will be.?

Dave Thacker, chairman of the College?s Governors, said: ?In my opinion this is the most exciting time for the College because it is the start of a totally new development responding to the learning needs of people from every walk of life in this part of the country.

?Perhaps the best thing about it is that we have support from the local population, the local council and the government departments dealing with education.

?Everyone concerned obviously knows that this College has a bright future and can respond to their needs effectively and successfully.?

Wates? project manager John Roberts said: ?Works are progressing well and we are looking forward to delivering this new learning facility to the East Riding area.?

Ross Palmer, LSC partnership director for the East Riding, said: ?This is an exciting time for East Riding College and for the Bridlington area, and it?s great to see the new building begin to take shape.

?It will be a landmark for providing outstanding and well-equipped facilities that will pave the way for the College to further improve and expand the learning and training opportunities on offer.?

Wates are currently completing the foundations, a two-stage process which firstly saw more than 400 piles sunk down 12 metres into the ground.

The contractors are on the second stage of ?capping? the piles, which will allow the steel frame to be attached.

An archaeological watching brief ? a condition attached to the planning consent - turned up nothing of significance.

The watching brief was considered essential as the campus is close to Bridlington Priory and also includes two medieval archery butts ? mounds on which targets were positioned.

A digital walk-through of the new campus, and an animated external fly-by, can be viewed by going to www.eastridingcollege.ac.uk and clicking on ?Redevelopment @ Bridlington?.