Turf-cutting marks start of work on college’s new engineering centre

Building work has started on City of Bristol College’s newest building, on the site of the former Filton High School in New Road, Stoke Gifford.

The £12 million Advanced Engineering Centre will bring together the college’s automotive and aeronautical engineering into one state-of-the-art building creating one of the largest engineering centres in the UK.

The new facility will include several new workshops, a hydraulics laboratory and electronic laboratory.

For aeronautical engineering, there will be a large hanger for two aircraft, an avionics laboratory, a technical library, an engine workshop, a composite material workshop and a large heavy vehicle workshop and classroom complex.

The new centre will be built on land adjacent to the college’s existing Parkway Transport Technology Centre, which is being refurbished as part of the same project.

Speaking about the build, Lynn Merilion, City of Bristol College Principal said:

“This new building has been created with one thing in mind – providing students with the latest technology and giving them the skills and experience they need to progress into employment. We are looking forward to seeing the finished product and welcoming students into this fantastic new centre of excellence.”

The Advanced Engineering Centre will accommodate up to 1,600 students and is due to open in September 2013.

One of the largest further education colleges in the UK, City of Bristol College offers over 2,000 courses at all levels for both 16-19 year olds and adult learners. Currently catering for more than 30,000 students and employing over 2,200 staff, the college delivers a significant majority of the post-16 educational provision in the Greater Bristol area.

Image: Artist’s impression of City of Bristol College’s new Advanced Engineering Centre, currently under construction in New Road, Stoke Gifford.

Photo: Turf-cutting ceremony at the site of City of Bristol College’s new Advanced Engineering Centre in New Road, Stoke Gifford. L-R: Richard Eke (Chair of College Corporation), Lynn Merilion (Principal), Louise McMillan (Vice Principal), Wayne Scannell (Cowlin Construction) and Chris Haire (Provelio).

Another new building, the Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy (BTE Academy), is currently being constructed on another part of the former Filton High School site (see sketch).

Also due to open next September, the academy will eventually house 440 students aged from 14 to 19, and 33.5 full-time equivalent staff. It will recruit young people from across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset who are interested in a career in the engineering or environmental technology sectors.

The academy, a University Technical College (UTC), is co-sponsored by Rolls Royce, Airbus and GKN Aerospace, the University of the West of England and City of Bristol College.

Related link: Schools & Colleges in Stoke Gifford (The Journal)