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.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A new £8.8m educational facility in the heart of Mansfield is set to prepare young people for careers in key industries while helping local businesses grow. West Nottinghamshire College officially launched its latest centre, the Mansfield Ambition Exchange, with educationists, students, civic leaders and employers praising the project. Built by Nottingham-based Clegg Construction, the state-of-the-art building at the Chesterfield Road campus delivers courses up to level 3 and will accommodate more than 350 students studying business and T Level professional construction programmes. The centre will strengthen the college’s long-established industry links, enabling students and employers to collaborate on real-world projects. It will also act as a strategic hub for business engagement, hosting conferences, masterclasses, roadshows and events alongside partners including Nottingham Trent University (NTU), Mansfield and Ashfield Business Network (MABN) and East Midlands Chamber. In addition, the centre will provide a space for knowledge-exchange between the college, university and local businesses – with events offering insights into future trends, technological opportunities, and support for product and process innovation. The flagship project aims to equip Mansfield and the surrounding area to meet future labour market needs, address skills gaps, and create well-paid jobs in emerging industries. Businesses will also benefit from access to support and a pipeline of skilled talent, helping them enhance competitiveness and efficiency. Senior leaders from the college, NTU, MABN, Clegg Construction and Mansfield District Council, Executive Mayor of Mansfield Andy Abrahams, and college students came together to unveil the building. This coincided with MABN’s monthly business breakfast networking meeting – the first employer event to take place in the centre – where the Mayor, college principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley MBE, and MABN chair Ian Jephson addressed an audience of local business representatives. Darren Chapman, operations director at Clegg Construction, said: “As a Nottinghamshire-based company, Clegg Construction was proud to have been appointed to deliver this exciting expansion for West Nottinghamshire College. “We are very pleased to see how well the Mansfield Ambition Exchange has been received now that it is operational, and we are particularly happy to see that it is accommodating the T Level professional studies in construction course – helping to train the next generation of construction experts. “Being born and bred in Mansfield, and having attended the college as a teenager to study construction, this is a project that’s close to my heart.” Mansfield Ambition Exchange spans 1,343 sq. m. of high-quality teaching space including classrooms, IT suites, a Learning Resource Centre, and a T Level room that doubles as a conferencing facility. Flexible spaces support meetings, events and independent study. Located at the rear of the college’s sixth-form building, the centre spans two levels to accommodate the site’s natural slope. Light wells bring daylight into the lower ground floor, while heat recovery and variable refrigerant flow systems maintain a comfortable learning environment. Upgraded car parking and modernised landscaped areas create a welcoming environment for students, staff and visitors. Clegg Construction carried out the 16-month build, hosting T Level student Archie Martin on an industry placement during the construction phase. The 17-year-old is now among the first cohort of learners to study in the purpose-built centre. The facility sits adjacent to Ashfield House, an early 19th-century Georgian building now being transformed into a student services hub, linking Mansfield’s history with its educational future. The stone portico from the former School of Art building on the site was carefully removed, preserved and incorporated as the main entrance to the new centre, maintaining the site’s historical character. Mansfield Ambition Exchange has been made possible thanks to £4.3m from the UK Government’s Towns Fund, £3.8m from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (now part of the Department for Education), and £734,000 from the college and NTU. It is among several major schemes being made possible through Mansfield’s £12.3m Towns Fund allocation secured by the Mansfield Place Board with the support of Mansfield District Council. Other projects include the Warsop Health Hub, Destination Mansfield and work to make Berry Hill Park a Destination Park. Andrew Cropley MBE, principal and chief executive of West Nottinghamshire College and chair of the Mansfield Place Board, said: “It’s great to celebrate the opening of Mansfield Ambition Exchange, which is already providing a great experience to over 350 young learners on our business studies and professional construction courses.  “This excellent facility also gives us a great venue to offer technical courses to adults wishing to take their career forward or in a new direction, and to support businesses to prosper and grow. We will work closely with our partners at Nottingham Trent University to ensure this is an exciting and ambitious offer. “I’m delighted to see the Mansfield Place Board deliver another major project. Mansfield Ambition Exchange will support the ambitions set out in the ‘Make it in Mansfield’ strategy to grow our economy and create opportunities for local people. “I’m confident that the range of courses and events hosted in this building will raise the aspirations of businesses in the area, help them develop their plans, and then support them in turning those plans into reality. Meanwhile, the courses offered in the centre and across the wider college will support local people to seize the opportunities that emerge. “We already have several such events and courses planned, and we look forward to working with colleagues at MABN, NTU, East Midlands Chamber and others to bring them to life.” Executive Mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams, said: “The Ambition Exchange puts opportunity where it belongs – on our doorstep. This college site has come full circle, from cherished memories to a new sixth-form hub in 2021, and now to a place where education, enterprise and community meet. “Our goal is simple: equip people with the capabilities our economy needs and energise the town centre while we do it. If we want streets that are lively all week and into the evening, we must attract, develop and retain our young people – students, apprentices, founders and early-career professionals – because footfall follows opportunity. “When

Graham Construction has been appointed main contractor for the new Oasis Academy Temple Quarter in Bristol, after the Department for Education awarded a £49.9m contract. Work starts this month, with the school scheduled to open in September 2027. The scheme will deliver a main secondary school building and convert a smaller listed structure—the former boiler shop—into a new sports hall. In total, the project provides 12,182 sq m GIFA with capacity for 1,600 pupils on the Silverthorne Lane site. Head teacher Richard James called the development “a major milestone for East Bristol”, adding that the permanent campus would be “a lasting home for learning, growth, and community pride”. Graham regional director Peter Reavey said the start on site follows “several years of hard work by the entire project team”, and that the new facility will benefit “generations of school children in the Bristol area”. The project is being delivered for Oasis Community Learning under the Department for Education’s programme to expand and modernise school places across the city. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Willmott Dixon has been awarded a contract by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council to build a new English-medium primary school in Glyn-coch, South Wales. The new school will be built to Passivhaus standards and operate as net zero, surpassing current Welsh Government targets for reductions in embodied carbon for new schools. The project forms part of Willmott Dixon’s growing portfolio of sustainable educational developments. Appointed via SEWSCAP, the scheme will see a two-storey replacement school building constructed on the existing Craig yr Hesg Primary School site and adjoining land. The facility will include two Multi-Use Games Areas, a grass sports pitch, playgrounds, a 43-space car park with EV charging bays, and bike, scooter, and buggy storage to encourage sustainable travel. In addition, the development will feature three dedicated community rooms and a Welsh-language Meithrin. The project received grant funding through the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Schools Challenge Project, part of the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, in spring 2023. It is one of only three schools in Wales to secure investment through this initiative. A traditional turf-cutting ceremony marked the official start of construction, attended by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Cabinet Members, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Member of the Senedd Vikki Howells, and MP Alex Davies-Jones. The school is scheduled to open in autumn 2026, welcoming pupils from Cefn Primary and Craig yr Hesg Primary. Working with architect Stride Treglown, the school and community hub will target multiple green credentials, including Passivhaus Standard, Building With Nature accreditation, and the WELL Building Standard, which focuses on creating healthy environments to support wellbeing. Sustainable features will include rain gardens and nature-based solutions to manage surface water. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Kirklees Council has been granted planning permission for a new, purpose-built special school in Almondbury, Huddersfield, set to replace the existing Woodley School and College. The facility will offer 180 places for children and young people aged 5 to 19 with complex autism, including a dedicated post-16 provision. It will be built on a new site in Fernside Avenue, designed by Frank Shaws Associates to provide a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment. Specialist facilities will include sensory and immersive rooms, indoor and outdoor breakout areas, a forest school, food technology rooms, a post-16 café, and a life skills suite, all shaped with input from current Woodley students and staff, and based on Autism Education Trust best practice guidance. Planning consultancy Lichfields, based in Leeds, worked with the council to prepare and submit the application, supporting the design process to ensure it met local priorities and planning requirements. Cllr Jane Rylah, Kirklees Council Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The new school will provide a tailored environment where pupils can thrive and reach their full potential. Woodley School delivers excellent education and support, and this new purpose-built facility will allow us to extend that offer to even more children and young people. I’m looking forward to seeing the build progress and the positive impact this investment will bring to families across Kirklees.” The new Woodley School and College is part of the council’s wider transformation of SEND provision across the district with construction expected to begin next year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Construction has started on the new landmark laboratory building ‘Infinity Labs’ at University of Southampton Science Park and was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony held on Monday 21 July. The event was attended by Rt Hon Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North, who put the first spade in the ground to officiate the milestone. Dr Robin Chave, CEO of Southampton Science Park, was joined by Scott Brownrigg representatives Ed Hayden, Life Sciences Director, and Amy Bourne, Associate Project Leader, who have been responsible for the design of the new gateway building. The new multi-tenancy building will provide 3,400 sqm of much needed new laboratory space at the entrance to the Southampton Science Park, supporting the Park’s commitment to fuel innovation and elevate the presence of British science and technology on the world stage. Curved in shape, the three-storey building will activate a sweeping bend at the main entrance to the site and feature a sloping green roof, helping to embed the structure within the landscape and enhance biodiversity onsite. A fabric first approach supports the Park’s sustainability objectives for a low-energy, low-carbon building. Of the milestone, CEO of Southampton Science Park, Dr Robin Chave, said: “We are incredibly excited to officially commence construction of this widely anticipated project. This new building, the largest to be built at Southampton Science Park to date, is going to provide much-needed facilities for life science and other laboratory-based companies from spin-out and start-up onwards. It will play a significant role in helping the life science cluster in the region to grow and prosper, building on the talent emerging from our Universities and shining a light on the investment potential across the South Central economy.” The Rt Hon Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North, said: “It’s always great to be here at Southampton Science Park, witnessing how it develops and grows year on year. The new Infinity Labs building is impressive and beautiful. It is such an iconic looking building, and a real testament to the Science Park’s determination to grow, to bring high quality jobs to this area, and of course, to make sure that there are facilities that our scientists will use and desperately need. So, massive congratulations to the University of Southampton Science Park. I can’t wait to see the finished building!” With the main contractor, Amiri Construction now starting works on site, the new landmark gateway building is expected to complete in 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Morgan Sindall Construction’s Wales division has officially broken ground on a new state-of-the-art Additional Learning Needs (ALN) school in Clydach Vale, designed to be net zero carbon in operation. Commissioned by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, the £37 million school will provide English-medium ALN education for 176 learners aged 3 to 19. The project, awarded via the SEWSCAP 3 Framework, is being jointly funded by the Welsh Government through its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Completion is expected in Autumn 2026. The new facility will feature 23 classrooms, a hydrotherapy pool, a wellbeing centre, a canteen and a range of multi-use and support spaces spread across a two-storey modern building. External works will include outdoor learning and play areas, a secure roof terrace on the southern side of the building, and a 79-space car park with EV charging points, drop-off/pick-up facilities and covered cycle storage. To preserve the local environment, all existing trees and surrounding woodland will be retained, and the site will be enclosed with secure boundary fencing. The school is designed in line with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Welsh Government climate commitments and reflects Morgan Sindall’s own sustainability goals. The building will be powered by rooftop solar PV panels and will feature a sustainable drainage system to manage rainwater responsibly. Morgan Sindall will also implement a dedicated social value plan throughout construction, working with the council’s Employment, Education, and Training team to deliver job creation, apprenticeships, and training opportunities for local residents. A Morgan Sindall Knowledge Quad will also be established on site—providing a hub for education, engagement, and community collaboration. Rob Williams, Area Director for Morgan Sindall in Wales, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to begin the construction of this brand new, state-of-the-art school in partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Our work will support the next generation of learners with ALN with specialised high quality educational facilities such as the hydrotherapy pool and wellbeing centre. “We very much look forward to progressing works on site and engaging with the wider Clydach Vale community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Morgan Sindall Construction has announced the successful completion of the main building phase for the King Henry VIII 3-19 School redevelopment in Abergavenny, a transformative £62.5 million project delivered via the SEWSCAP framework. A celebration was held to mark the handover of the new building to Monmouthshire County Council, with external works scheduled to continue for a further year. The project delivers a purpose-built, all-through school spanning 15,000 square metres, encompassing 107 teaching spaces for primary, secondary, and sixth form education, alongside wraparound childcare and specialist facilities for children with additional learning needs. External amenities will include a 3G football pitch, a 2G hockey pitch, and a new publicly accessible Active Travel route. Constructed with a steel frame and incorporating GGBS cement to reduce embodied carbon, the school is Monmouthshire County Council’s first designed to be Net Zero Carbon in operation. Significant sustainability features include photovoltaic (PV) panels for direct power generation, underfloor heating, air source heat pumps, enhanced insulation, and triple-glazed windows. The project’s carbon output has been rigorously monitored using Morgan Sindall’s proprietary CarboniCa tool, and the company applied its 10 Tonne Challenge to identify further emission reductions. The construction team successfully navigated complex challenges, including high groundwater levels and a sloping site. Early contractor involvement proved pivotal, enabling intelligent design solutions for steelwork, mechanical and electrical (M&E) systems, and groundworks. Notably, the sheet piling design was adapted to preserve a 700-year-old oak tree, which now forms a central landscape feature. Beyond environmental sustainability, the project delivered substantial social value, creating 60 new jobs for individuals not in education, employment, or training, and supporting 22 new apprentices. The team engaged over 9,300 pupils through STEM activities and ensured 82% of the workforce was sourced from Wales, with 84% of supply chain spend retained locally. Robert Williams, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Wales, commented: “We’re incredibly proud to have delivered this transformative project for Monmouthshire County Council and the local community. King Henry VIII 3-19 School represents not only a major investment in education but also in sustainable construction and inclusive design. This project is a testament to what can be achieved through early collaboration, intelligent planning, and a shared commitment to creating inspiring learning environments.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Queen Mary University of London has signed an agreement with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to acquire a substantial parcel of land in Whitechapel, adjacent to its current campus. The acquisition enables Queen Mary to expand its research and education footprint, creating a transformative, multi-disciplinary life sciences campus. The development aims to improve health outcomes locally and globally, while also boosting economic growth and attracting inward investment to the area. The site’s close proximity to the University’s existing facilities and its long-standing partner, Barts Health NHS Trust, will allow Queen Mary to consolidate its operations in Whitechapel—already one of its nine London locations—into a hub of education, innovation, and healthcare. The future campus will bring together researchers, clinicians, and industry partners to address some of the most pressing health challenges of the 21st century. Professor Colin Bailey CBE, President and Principal of Queen Mary University of London, said: “Queen Mary is unparalleled among research-intensive universities in combining world-leading research and education, with a profound commitment to the local communities we serve, and to social mobility and justice. In a world still facing intractable inequalities in health and access to education, universities like Queen Mary are needed more than ever. The step we have taken today future-proofs the long-term future of our University and our mission. “This major investment in Whitechapel gives us the opportunity, working with partners, to drive economic growth and healthcare benefits in an increasingly hyper-connected area of London within which we have deep historic roots, stretching back to 1785 and beyond, and long-standing and productive partnerships. “The campus we develop here will enable us to create an environment that integrates the talents of our researchers, scientists, teachers and clinicians across all our disciplines and allows them to work directly alongside other national and international partners, businesses and entrepreneurs, generating the healthcare and wellbeing solutions, and required vital broader skillsets, of tomorrow.” This latest agreement builds on Queen Mary’s initial acquisition of part of the site in November 2021, which was described by Professor Bailey at the time as “one of the largest research investments in Queen Mary’s history.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals