Phase 2 entailed the construction of the Evolution Centre, a new science and teaching building which will replace all current classrooms and provide new staffrooms.
Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans, officially opened this new teaching facility at Oaklands College’s St Albans Campus on Friday 26th November 2021, marking the half-way point in its £62m redevelopment.
The ‘Evolution Centre’ provides 49 new classrooms, including a science laboratory and six dedicated ICT rooms, office space for teaching staff and a dedicated wing for the college’s Pathway 4 special needs students.
With Oaklands celebrating its centenary year, the new building represents the halfway point for the £62 million redevelopment of its St Albans Campus, which aims to provide the community and students with a more energy efficient, modern learning space, ready to take the college into the next 100 years.
Phase 3 will fund a new Construction Centre, containing industry-standard workshops and new craft bays, as well as a new Sports Pavilion, housing hydrotherapy and physiotherapy areas, new changing rooms and specialist facilities for sports and academy students.
Willmott Dixon, the construction specialists contracted to complete the redevelopment works, will begin Phase Three in Spring 2022. This will introduce a brand-new Construction Centre, which will expand on the college’s industry-standard workshops and spacious, modern craft bays designed to prepare students for industry. Phase Three will also create a new Sports Pavilion with hydrotherapy and physiotherapy areas, six new changing rooms and specialist facilities for the college’s sports and academy students.
The final stage, phase 4, of the redevelopment will see the creation of a vibrant college square, in front of the new Gateway building, which will finish the masterplan and create a focal point for the campus, with a new Learning Resource Centre, Reception, campus café, library and specialist facilities for the college’s Supported Learning department.
The complete redevelopment of Oaklands College is due to be completed in 2024.
Why?
The buildings at Smallford campus are ageing and deteriorating and undergoing urgent refurbishment will provide the college with modern new teaching facilities.
Impact
As well as ensuring the campus is fit for purpose, the redevelopment will help the college to better meet local employers’ skills needs and prepare students for the workplace through the use of upgraded equipment.
Funding
The college has sold land from the campus on which 348 residences will be built, with sales proceeds to be used as match funding for a four-phase redevelopment programme.
Hertfordshire LEP has invested £5m towards phases 2 and 3.
This project was approved by the board on the 21st March 2019.
