ISG closes in on GBP26 million contract

ISG is preferred contractor on the GBP26 million redevelopment of Sir John Deane's College in Northwich, Cheshire.

The College is currently awaiting funding from the Learning Skills Council (LSC) and once secured, this will enable the highly rated and popular sixth form college, which is celebrating its 450th anniversary year, to centralise its campus and provide world class teaching facilities for some 1,350 students.

The project incorporates both historical and modern elements, with ISG retaining and refurbishing the College's impressive Edwardian main hall, whilst also demolishing a number of buildings across the site to make way for the construction of a state-of-the-art new campus, linked by a central glazed walkway.

The project has been carefully phased to enable the College to continue to operate from the site, with some staff and students relocating to high specification temporary teaching accommodation during initial phases of the scheme.

Following demolition work, ISG will commence construction of three buildings linked by a central tapering glazed walkway, which incorporates the main college entrance.

The largest of these steel frame buildings is a cantilevered three-storey structure which features the college library and boasts an impressive full height glazed atrium.

Featuring a contemporary architectural design with copper rain screen cladding and serrated glazing, this striking building also incorporates a sustainable green sedum roof.

The second phase of development sees the refurbishment and rationalisation of space within the existing Edwardian building to create a new refectory with capacity for over 200 diners.

A further four buildings will also be constructed linking on to the central glazed walkway, including a large theatre and performing arts area and a single-storey art block with an innovative outside art space.

The project is scheduled for completion by summer 2011.

Craig Tatton, managing director of ISG's regional business, commented: "Expenditure within the further education sector remains at a consistently high level with a raft of government initiatives designed to raise the overall standards of teaching accommodation across the UK.

As a business, we have operated within the sector for many years and work hard to understand the needs and aspirations of all stakeholders involved".

"Key note education projects for ISG include Edinburgh Telford College, Leeds College of Music, Nelson and Colne College, Gateway College in Leicester and the GBP59 million South West Ipswich and South Suffolk (SWISS) Sixth Form Centre.".

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