Construction of a £6m state-of-the-art teaching centre at Cardinal Newman College has started. The 1,200 sq metre St Catherine Building will house the Catholic sixth form college’s expanding media and art departments.
J Greenwood Builders has began construction on the college building that looks set to be completed in January 2025.
The Manchester-based contractor is spearheading the development of the three-story teaching facility, designed by Ellis Williams Architects and boasting a £6 million budget.
The center will accommodate Cardinal Newman College’s expanding media and art departments and aligns with the Department for Education’s net-zero specifications.
The project, situated off Lark Hill Road, repurposes the former car park serving the St James Building, addressing spatial constraints currently faced by the college’s art and design department.
The St Catherine Building co-locates creative industries into a single area and partially replaces the St James side extension. The project team, including J Greenwood Builders and William Ellis, aims to meet future demand, as other planned developments are unlikely to proceed due to high costs.
The college anticipates a valuable addition to its facilities, providing state-of-the-art spaces for creative subjects and supporting its carbon commitment.
With an extensive track record in delivering educational projects, J Greenwood Builders is enthusiastic about progressing the challenging logistics and technical design of the building.
A spokesperson for the college said: “The building will be a fabulous addition to the college’s already excellent facilities, providing additional classrooms and studio spaces for our creative subjects, including media, photography and graphic design.
“We are also really proud that this new build will also support the college’s carbon commitment, whilst providing state-of-the-art facilities for our students to work and learn in.”
Adrian Rooney, managing director of J Greenwood Builders, added: “The challenging logistics and highly technical design of the building are something our experienced team, supported by talented designers and our long-established and trusted supply chain, look forward to progressing.”
To explore further details about the project, refer to Preston City Council’s planning portal using application number 06/2022/0780.
