Construction company G F Tomlinson has completed the £multi-million refurbishment of Barnsley College historic University Centre, turning the 93-year-old art-deco building into the new South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (IoT).
The redevelopment was marked with an official opening ceremony on 25 September, led by Barnsley MPs Dan Jarvis and Dr Marie Tidball. They were joined by representatives from Barnsley College, G F Tomlinson, AECOM, Salix, the Department for Education (DfE), and the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology.
Originally built in 1932 as Barnsley Mining and Technical College, the iconic building has been transformed into a modern learning hub for higher-level education and innovation. The upgraded centre will provide space for more than 1,000 students and staff, with state-of-the-art teaching facilities, flexible learning spaces, and a new café and breakout zone.
A central feature of the project is a striking enclosed atrium, created by redeveloping the college’s former open-air courtyard. The glazed roof allows natural light into the new Learning Resource Centre, which is set across tiered mezzanine floors.
The project introduced 100 rooftop solar panels generating up to 29.73 kWp of renewable energy, an all-electric heating and cooling system, new air handling units, LED lighting, secondary glazing, and extensive insulation upgrades. These measures have earned the building an EPC asset rating of A, establishing it as a benchmark for low-carbon retrofit in the education sector.
Beyond the build itself, G F Tomlinson delivered strong social value outcomes. The contractor hosted student site tours, mock interviews, and job fair appearances, while supporting community initiatives including the Barnsley Apprenticeship Conference and local food pantries. The project also supported the local economy, with 84% of spending retained within 40 miles of the site.
The South Yorkshire IoT is part of a national network of 21 Institutes of Technology, designed to bridge skills gaps in engineering, health, digital and construction. The Barnsley site is being delivered in partnership with Barnsley College, Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre, DN Colleges Group, the Sheffield College, and RNN Group.
Adrian Grocock, managing director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We are delighted to deliver this landmark facility for Barnsley College and the wider South Yorkshire IoT. This world-class learning environment reflects the very best in heritage refurbishment, sustainability and future-ready education design. It has been a pleasure to collaborate with the client team to deliver a project that meets high technical aspirations while generating lasting benefits for the community.”
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