Barrow-in-Furness
Multi-million pound new build takes shape in Barrow
The community is now getting used to seeing the Furness College’s multi-million pound new build take shape on the Barrow skyline. The build is just ahead of schedule and on budget.
Eric Wright Construction Ltd is the main contractor that will make the state-of-the-art building, designed by Broadway Malyan, a reality.
In the Autumn last year the steel frames started to be erected by Killelea Steelwork with the laying of concrete floor completed in March and the final work on the roof and the building shell, including the copper cladding, underway.
The building has three frontages, on Ironworks Road, Bessemer Way and on campus facing the Walney Channel. There will be double height ground and first floors where vocational workshops will be showcased in curriculum area such as, engineering, construction, motor vehicle, plumbing and pipe work. The ground floor will feature a glass fronted hair and beauty salon with a spa, sauna and other facilities for the public.
The facilities will really be work related, so it is like coming into a place of work, so when they go into industry they have the right approach and attitude. The restaurant is on the first floor with a refectory which will overlook the Channel and Duddon Estuary. The second floor includes learning spaces and classes.
The University of Cumbria will use part of the third floor, which will be the first dedicated centre for university education delivery in Barrow. This new development will see the partnership working to create a real focal point for education, learning and industry training for the future. The HE floor of the building will enable the university to deliver its own HE courses, Furness delivered UoC validated programmes and other higher education courses delivered by Furness College and validated by other HEIs. It will also provide a gateway to further support for any student engaging with HE in the area.
Higher learning must now be offered in increasingly flexible modes, closer to home and closer to work with integrated access to academic and real world environments so that learning can be supported wherever the learner is. The university’s partnership with Furness College provides a gateway into the University of Cumbria in Barrow. The university’s presence within the Furness College new build will provide specialist resources for specific academic programmes and access to University of Cumbria services for students, staff and the local community. This development will see £ multi-million spending on infrastructure and facilities, creating a real investment for this part of the county. Furness new build will enable the university to create an education and training gateway of real value, for students and for employers and industries based in Barrow.
Furness College was one of the only colleges in the country to finally secure funding for a capital build. It received £32m from the former Learning and Skills Council and £3.5m from North West Regional Development Agency and the University of Cumbria. The university is also contributing a range of HE expertise to assist Furness College in the development of the new-build and the future HE activity within it
When the new build is complete the Learning Resource Centre building will be revamped, a multi use games area will be created and the landscaping of the campus will begins.
The new campus is due for completion late spring 2013 but will be in use by University of Cumbria students by 2012.
Directions
By car: From exit 36 on the M6, take the A590 and follow signs all the way to Barrow-In-Furness. When you reach Barrow you will pass through an industrial estate area. Continue until you pass the ASDA Supermarket on the left hand side.
By rail: Furness College is 1.2 miles on foot from Barrow train station.
By bus: a map of services in Barrow (including the location of Furness College) can be downloaded: http://www.stagecoachbus.com/uploads/barrownetworkmap[0].pdf
Discounted bus travel (available for any student):Stagecoach is offering a special concessionary ticket for the route 6 bus. This can be purchased through the college. This will be available for any Route 6 bus, any day, including weekends and half term holidays. This ticket will be available to buy from college at £120 per term.
A link to the Furness College map: http://www.furness.ac.uk/userfiles/Map2011.pdf
Furness College Postcode: LA14 2PJ