Oldham College has big plan to transform its Rochdale Road campus over the next few years. The first phase involves the development of a five-storey Learning Hub, situated on the corner of Middleton Road and Rochdale Road. The building will house 28 new classrooms, a community space, new student support facilities, and a new front entrance to the college.
This building is scheduled to complete by early next year.
Work on a second new building is planned to start this summer.
Laing O’Rourke was selected for the job last year through the North West Construction Hub framework. It has committed to developing 15-20 apprenticeships with the college on to the construction project. It has also undertaken to share its best practice in modern building methods and green technologies with College staff and students, offering a number of placements and training opportunities, and helping to inform curriculum development around construction.
The design team is led by Aeda, whose director Tony Langan said: “We are delighted that the design has won the seal of approval from its local Councillors and look forward to working with Oldham College and Laing O’Rourke to deliver the transformational vision of Oldham College.”
Principal Alun Francis added: ““This is part of an ambitious transformation programme for the College and the town. We know that the work of the college is widely valued and that our role in the future regeneration of Oldham, through delivering high quality vocational skills, is very important. This investment, which is largely funded from our own resources, is part of a genuine commitment to raising standards and improving opportunities. The construction will be completed by early 2014, and learners across a number of courses and departments will benefit. We have also aimed to improve the built environment in the town centre, and to ensure that, given the economic situation, there are local labour benefits, including apprenticeships, work experience and a very useful onsite construction project that will give invaluable experience to many of our building services students and staff”.
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