New College Durham, who currently rank among the UK’s top colleges, have a passion for building close working relationships with employers ensuring their students develop the crucial knowledge, skills and behaviours that are needed to gain employment. The overarching vision of this project is underpinned by the College’s passion for providing skills and knowledge. Turning an unused warehouse unit into a local Construction Centre of Excellence is a testament to their investment in young people and the UK’s wider economy.

Promotion House, as it was formerly named, was purchased by New College Durham as part of their ever-growing portfolio of high-quality teaching and learning spaces. The unit required significant refurbishment to all major building elements, including asbestos removal, mechanical & electrical installations, façade improvements and a full internal refurbishment. The project set out to transform a dated, unusable space into a specialised teaching facility for trade subjects.

Following a successful refurbishment programme the building now houses teaching rooms, breakout areas, changing facilities and a large multi-use practical area for trade subjects. A newly designed joisted floor creates a mezzanine area for housing new mechanical and ventilation equipment. The existing building envelope was stripped down to expose the portal frame, which was fire protected and reclad with new composite cladding. Internally, partitions were constructed to form the classrooms, breakout spaces, and practical areas.