Barnsley College refurb completes
GF Tomlinson has redeveloped the former Barnsley Mining and Technical College into the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology, supported by AECOM.
The project has been delivered in partnership with the college, Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre, DN Colleges Group, the Sheffield College and RNN Group.
With space for 1,000 students and staff, work has included the refurbishment of the former open-air college courtyard into a fully enclosed atrium, with a glazed roof to create a central hub that houses a modern Learning Resource Centre, set across tiered mezzanine floors.
The spaces link to specialist IoT training facilities and include study areas, with a café and lounge area on the ground floor.
Funded through Department for Education investment and the college’s own money, the project also received sustainability upgrades through a successful Salix decarbonisation bid.
Technologies used include 100 PV roof panels, an all-electric variable refrigerant flow heating and cooling system, and LED lighting throughout, with the building receiving an EPC A rating.
The South Yorkshire Institute of Technology is part of a national network of 21 IoTs that aims to bring together education providers and employers to address skills gaps in sectors such as engineering, health, digital and construction.
Across the construction phase, GF Tomlinson secured 63% of the workforce from within 40 miles of the site and created 15.6 weeks of apprenticeship work.
Adrian Grocock, managing director at GF Tomlinson said: “We are delighted to deliver this landmark facility for Barnsley College and the wider South Yorkshire IoT.
“This world-class learning environment reflects the very best in heritage refurbishment, sustainability and future-ready education design.
“It has been a pleasure to collaborate with the client team to deliver a project that meets high technical aspirations while generating lasting benefits for the community.”
Barnsley College principal and chief executive David Akeroyd said: “The opening of the University Centre is a landmark moment for higher-level education in Barnsley and the wider region.
“This project has been years in the making and represents the hard work, vision and commitment of so many colleagues and partners.
“Together, we have taken a unique building that once stood as a symbol of Barnsley’s mining and technological excellence and reimagined it for the future, while keeping it where it has always historically been – at the cutting-edge of technical education.
“This is an exciting time for the College and all our partners involved in the South Yorkshire IoT – as we look ahead to a future in which our hard work has led to increased opportunities for retraining and upskilling, more accessible and higher-quality jobs, and a productive workforce who are skilled in the right areas.”
