A £13 million state of the art building is to be delivered to create a modern learning environment and facilities for students on Northampton College’s Daventry Campus.
Leading independent management, design and construction consultancy Pick Everard is providing full design services and cost management to carry out a complete rebuild of the College’s campus.
Andrew Almond, partner at Pick Everard, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Northampton College on this exciting project which will transform facilities at the Daventry campus. The rebuild is much needed as the dated buildings were no longer fit for purpose and in need of repair. The College was keen to ensure students have the very best, state-of-the-art facilities to be at the forefront of further education provision.”
Construction work has now started on the new learning hub which has been designed by Pick Everard to provide a 4,900 sq m building with teaching space for a range of courses including hairdressing and beauty therapy, motor vehicle engineering, construction and animal care. It will also have modern facilities for students with learning disabilities, incorporate new computer labs, a library and cafeteria. The new facilities will encompass a Digital Academy set to teach students software and coding, web development, games design and social media.
The new campus will provide places for around 400 students including 200 apprentices in a wide range of fields. Part of the original site will also be used for housing development to accommodate for new homes in the Daventry area.
Education provision for young people in Daventry historically has been limited. It is hoped the development will address this by raising standards in the area.
Jav Virk, director at Pick Everard, said: “We hope this new facility will help to meet a demand to allow young people living in the Daventry area to have access to contemporary teaching facilities to pursue further education without having to travel out of town.
“Our teams have designed the building with copious glazing to create a striking aesthetic and maximise natural daylight. We have also made intelligent use of space and layout so the new facility will occupy around half the site of the original campus.
“The existing campus will remain open until construction is complete, when it will then be demolished to make way for new housing.
“It is great to be working again with Northampton College and contractor SDC after developing a collaborative working relationship through the previous successful delivery of a £67 million redevelopment of the Booth Lane and Lower Mounts campuses in 2012.”
Pick Everard played a key role in steering the project to construction stage, supporting the planning process and public consultation exercises. Sustainable design principles have been incorporated into the new campus with technology including photovoltaics and a heat recovery unit.
Principal Pat Brennan-Barrett said: “With the construction crew on site, the foundations prepared and the steel frames now being installed, we are on track to ensure that students signing up to Daventry Campus courses this September will benefit from truly exceptional facilities, an exciting new curriculum and a state of the art building that will help students reach and exceed their potential.”
The project has benefitted from £6.5 million of funding from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) in recognition of the contribution it will make to further education provision in Daventry.
The work, which is being delivered under the NHS SBS Framework, is expected to be completed by Autumn 2016. SDC is the main contractor carrying out the work.
