Work begins on £1.1million extension to West Lothian College

9th April 2014

College-3391868

Daily Record

by Marjorie Kerr

Work has officially begun on a £1.1m extension to West Lothian College.

College principal Mhairi Laughlin and David Cooper, construction director, Clark Contracts, performed an official ground cutting to mark the start of the development.

The investment programme, supported by the Scottish Funding Council, involves an extension to the Skills Centre.

Principal of West Lothian College, Mhairi Laughlin, commented: “We are expanding our courses and facilities in engineering, construction and computing to meet the demands of our community and industry. Companies are reporting skills shortages in these areas, and we are contributing to meet these needs. New courses have recently been introduced in areas such as Software Development, Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering, and they are rapidly filling up. We have strong links with companies who can provide work placements and apprenticeship opportunities, and also with universities for articulation to second or third year degree courses.”

David Cooper of Clark Contracts, said: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to work with West Lothian College again, this time to create the new Skills Centre. We look forward to delivering this ideal working environment allowing the college to extend its curriculum further supporting education in the construction industry.”

The Skills Centre project will see the construction of a 325-sqm multi-purpose workshop extension and internal reconfiguration within the Terrace 2 building. The improvements include an integrated staff workroom and three new reconfigured teaching spaces. In addition to this a canopy will be placed in the motor vehicles workshop yard to provide cover for the students when working outdoors. It is expected that the Skills Centre Project will be completed by the middle of August 2014 in time for the new autumn term.

Further developments to the Livingston campus are planned for later in the year with The Wellbeing Centre receiving an extension to the sports hall, which will provide additional space and facilities.

The design team is led by Andrew McCafferty of Austin-Smith:Lord architects with engineering design, cost consultancy and CDM-C services provided by their sub consultants Cundall, CBA and The Neilson Partnership. The Project Sponsor will be Jennifer McLaren, Assistant Principal Finance & Resources. Construction work will be undertaken by Clark Contracts who was recently awarded the contract after a competitive tender exercise.


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