
UK-based Wates Construction has been appointed to build the City Hub building for Nottingham College, which was formed as a result of a merger between the city’s New College and Central College in June 2017.
The City Hub, procured via Major Works – UK, part of the Scape National Construction framework, will offer modern facilities and resources for college students, and also provide community amenities including a restaurant, cafe, and a new performing arts centre.
The City Hub will be constructed on a brownfield land adjacent to the Broadmarsh Centre and tram overpass at the foot of Lace Market Cliff.
The hub will form part of a council-run scheme to regenerate this part of Nottingham to provide a more welcoming entrance to the southern part of the city centre.
Wates has decided to involve a local supply chain and provide training and employment opportunities for local people so that the project can create a social, skills and economic boost for the city.
The company will also work with the college’s construction team as part of a student engagement programme that will demonstrate the wide variety of career opportunities within the built environment.
Wates has already hosted a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event at Nottingham College in March as part of this commitment.
At the event, the attendees met the teams at Wates and delegates from the college, the design team, training providers and the council, to put themselves forward to work on the scheme.
Wates Construction Midlands business unit director John Carlin said: “We are very proud to have secured the contract to build what will be an exceptional centre for education in the East Midlands.
As well as being a superior facility for students, the hub will also be of excellent use for community groups and the business sector and will play a key role in creating a new destination within the city centre.”