The Bournemouth & Poole College is opening the doors to a fabulous new teaching complex at its North Road site in Poole in time for the start of a new academic year.
The new development signals a remarkable transformation for the site providing fresh teaching opportunities and modern facilities for hundreds of students in the region.
The project, jointly funded by the Skills Funding Agency and the college, sits at the heart of site and is the final piece in a £25M programme across both Poole and Bournemouth sites. This investment includes a huge refurbishment, and the creation of many new dedicated centres including a STEM Centre (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), Marine Technology Centre, Financial Services Centre and much more.
College Principal Diane Grannell, who is starting her first term in charge at the college, said: “This magnificent new teaching complex will provide an excellent array of teaching facilities in Health, Science, Music, Media and Performing Arts set in a pleasant environment for both staff and students.
“A new generation of students and our dedicated staff, as well as the wider community, are about to benefit from this investment in modern equipment and facilities.”
The total floor capacity at North Road has been increased by a staggering 4,600 square metres due to the new development and will house 44 new teaching spaces. The complex boasts four light and airy laboratories for Health and Science, and a forensic science investigation room. There is a Digital Media Suite, complete with a digital green room and Mac suites. Performing Arts benefits from a brand new theatre, rehearsal spaces and dressing rooms. The building is also a base for Wessex Youth Orchestra with practice facilities and a performance area. Each department has its own student break area and there is a LRC reading room.
New teaching aid equipment worth £200,000 has been installed, including 30, 84 inch, Clevertouch Plus touch screens supplied by Hugh Symons AV, of Poole, which will take communication between teacher and student to a new level. The L-shaped complex encloses a large landscaped courtyard formed with the south and west wings of the existing main buildings.
The building is a collaboration from Perkins Ogden Architects, specialists in building for further education colleges and engineering consultants Ramboll and Arup, who helped develop the proposals.
The contractor, Willmott Dixon Construction, has been widely praised for the construction schedule, which worked like clockwork with no disruption to college life and studies. Poole Borough Council was also praised for its support and backing in the planning process.
Energy efficiency and sustainability are both themes of the design, and electricity is partly supplied via photovoltaic cells on its roof. It merits an energy rating of ‘excellent’ by BREEAM the world's leading design and assessment method for sustainable buildings.
Ken Roberts, Executive Director of Resources at the College, co-ordinated the project. He said: “This area of our North Road site needed investment and we are really proud of what we have achieved. The building is a real credit to the architects, Perkins Ogden, the construction company, Willmott Dixon and to all those involved.”
