Kier has been appointed by the Department for Education to deliver a campus redevelopment project at East Coast College in Great Yarmouth, to provide a new and improved education campus, replacing the existing facilities.
The project will create a state-of-the-art new campus for the college, equipped with a mock hospital ward for students hoping to pursue medical careers, a hair and beauty salon managed by students, sports facilities and training kitchens and restaurants, in addition to a lecture hall and digital learning suites.
The new facilities will enable the introduction of new courses for 16 to 19 year-olds and adult learners, helping to meet the growing demand for education and addressing local skills gaps. It will also offer a range of modern amenities for staff, students, and the wider community to enjoy.
Designed with low-carbon operation at its core, the new campus will provide a sustainable and energy-efficient learning environment. Harnessing solar energy will be a key feature of this project and, during the construction phase, photovoltaic (PV) panels will be installed to the college buildings, to convert sunlight into electricity, providing a renewable and clean energy source, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and as a result lowering carbon emissions.
Enhanced building envelope fabric has also been a key part of the design process to decrease heat loss in winter and unwanted heat gain in summer, reducing the need for high energy usage and cost consuming heating and cooling systems when the college is operational.
The project is being funded by the Government’s £1.5bn Further Education Capital Transformation Fund, with East Coast College one of 16 across England benefitting from the fund.
Mark Dady, managing director, Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands, said: "East Coast College is a landmark project due to the scale of teaching facilities on offer, and we look forward to continuing the great work that we have done to date with both the College and the Department for Education. Kier will use our extensive expertise in delivering first-class educational facilities to build a campus that will benefit the local community and support students to achieve their full potential, inspiring future generations."
Paul Padda, Principal and Chief Executive Office at East Coast College, said: "We are delighted by the signing of this contract. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create an exciting and vibrant community asset. It will help thousands of students every year to study in the incredible new facilities on offer."
The project is scheduled to begin this Summer.
Kier has an existing relationship with the college having previously built the Western campus buildings which sits opposite the new teaching block.
Education continues to be a core sector for Kier Construction, with over 260 education projects completed in the last six years, delivering high quality facilities and exceptional outcomes for clients and end-users. A recent example is, Mulberry Academy London Dock and current projects include King’s Academy Bay House School in Gosport.
