News: Construction reaches its peak at Nottingham’s City Hub campus
The new £58m building significantly changing the face of Nottingham city centre reached a pinnacle stage this week with a ‘topping out’ ceremony marking construction of the City Hub reaching its uppermost point.
Wates Construction was joined on site by staff and students from Nottingham College, as well as representatives from Nottingham City Council and the LEP, as they ascended the building to its uppermost spot. Here they enjoyed the spectacular view of Nottingham’s skyline afforded by the new development, which strategically links the old and new in the area’s transforming city scape.
The topping out milestone signals substantial progress in the construction programme, with the building’s structural frame now complete. Work will now move on to the installation of glazed windows and doors and the commencement of mechanical and electrical works internally. The number of operatives on site will also increase from 80 to 150 in the coming months as construction of the impressive civic building continues apace.
Some 2,000 students will use the new campus every year when it opens in 2020, accessing modern facilities and resources across a range of curriculum areas. The new development will also boast a performing arts centre and restaurant, as well as a business hub offering Grade A office accommodation.
John van de Laarschot, Nottingham College CEO said:
It is our aim to bring to Nottingham something truly special, something more than a traditional college campus and which is a unique space in which business and education co-exist to the benefit of both.
With the College’s plans for its other centres of excellence across the City, Nottingham College will be one of the biggest and best-resourced education and training institutions in the country. We’re confident that this new campus will benefit not just our students, who deserve a first class learning environment, but also local businesses and the wider community. It’s fantastic to be celebrating such a key milestone in the development today – we’re moving ever closer to the day when the building opens and students begin to pour through our doors.
— John van de Laarschot, Nottingham College CEO
Councillor David Mellen, Leader of the City Council, said:
Once completed, the City Hub will provide great opportunities for around 2,000 students a year. This iconic new building will help to inspire our young people to achieve highly and acquire the skills needed for the jobs we will create in Nottingham. Projects like these build on our commitment to bring jobs, economic growth and more visitors to benefit the entire city and the variety of projects underway or soon to begin will help us turn that aspiration into reality.
Topping out this building brings us a step closer to the realisation of our plans for both the Broadmarsh and Southside redevelopment programmes, and the progress so far is beginning to give the people of Nottingham a sense of the level of ambition we have for the city.
— Councillor David Mellen, Leader of the Nottingham City Council
John Carlin, Managing Director of Wates Construction Midlands, commented:
We’ve made excellent progress in less than a year since construction commenced and the topping out represents a significant milestone, not just in our build programme but in the city’s educational and civic future. When complete, this campus will be of monumental benefit to College students and the wider community in Nottingham and we’re immensely proud to be playing a part in its establishment.
— John Carlin, Managing Director of Wates Construction Midlands
Minister for Local Growth, Jake Berry, MP said:
We’re committed to boosting economic growth across the whole of the Midlands Engine and building a country that works for everyone.
Nottingham College’s new City Hub building, made possible thanks to £30 million of investment from the Local Growth Fund, will create a landmark building which forms an integral part of the city’s regeneration by providing new state-of-the-art facilities for 4,845 new learners, businesses and community groups as well as creating 87 new jobs.
— Minister for Local Growth, Jake Berry, MP
Chair of Governors, Carole Thorogood BEM, said:
The 11th July marks a significant day for the College, with this important milestone in the development of this key cornerstone of education and training in our city. This new addition to our estate, once complete, will provide the high quality education and training that Nottingham deserves which will prepare students for their future careers and the contribution they can make to the prosperity of the city.
— Carole Thorogood (Chair of Governors, Nottingham College)
Elizabeth Fagan, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
It’s great to see the Nottingham City Hub reach this important milestone. This project is an opportunity to help change the face of skills provision in the LEP’s area, a key driver of economic growth.
D2N2 is providing up to half the costs of the £58million Nottingham City Hub, the largest ever single provision through our Local Growth Fund allocation. We’re committed to ensuring that skills and training offered in the LEP area put students on sustainable career paths and provide businesses with the talent they need to grow, driving forwards our area’s economy and productivity.
— Elizabeth Fagan, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership
The new campus represents a £58m investment in the city’s education by Nottingham College, made possible thanks to funding support from the LEP and Nottingham City Council. International property and construction consultancy, Gleeds is acting as cost manager, project monitor and is supporting the project management team on the development.
Wates Construction was appointed in spring 2018 to build the City Hub campus for Nottingham College and work commenced last summer. The project was procured via Major Works — UK, part of the Scape National Construction framework.
Published on:
- 12th July 2019 (8:39 AM)
Media enquiries
If you are a journalist and would like to contact us about this news story, our PR and Communications team will be happy to assist you.