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Dudley College's £12m steel building taking shape before spring opening

These are the latest images of Dudley College's £12 million state-of-the-art construction building which is starting to take shape.

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The new Advance II centre is due to open in the spring and will be the first college of its kind specialising in the latest construction techniques, technology and off-site fabrication.

The photos show the towering steel-frame structure has had most of its groundwork completed.

Builders are currently undertaking work inside, with live progress being shown via an online webcam.

Inside the steel-framed building, which is due to open in spring 2017
Inside the steel-framed building, which is due to open in spring 2017

Ian Austin MP, who has backed the building of the site from the start, said: "It's brilliant to see the new Advance II, the college's new Centre for Advanced Building Technologies being built. It will be the first college in the training students in the latest state-of –the-art construction techniques and technologies.

"I've worked hard to support Lowell Williams and his brilliant work at Dudley College which has transformed the town with fantastic new facilities, bringing thousands of students to Dudley, boosting the town centre and strengthening our economy.

"The only way we'll attract new investment and new jobs to replace the ones we've lost is by having the skills new industries need."

The 37,000 sq ft build will include workshops, classrooms and a four-story building called The Hanger
The 37,000 sq ft build will include workshops, classrooms and a four-story building called The Hanger

The new 37,000 sq ft build will include workshops, classrooms, project spaces, resource areas and welfare and support facilities around a four-storey building called The Hanger.

There will also be a 'digital centre' in which BIM and digital environment software packages will be demonstrated and taught.

Other facilities include a 'carbon-friendly technology centre' where students will acquire skills in the installation of air source heat pumps and photo-voltaic technologies.

Earlier this year Minister of State for Skill, Nick Boles MP, visited the college to speak to engineering apprentices while on a tour of existing Priory Road sites.

It will be built alongside the £9m Dudley Advance building that was opened in 2015.

A Dudley College spokesperson added: "The new Centre for Advanced Building Technologies is for bright, ambitious individuals who want to learn new and exciting processes so they can be part of the changing face of construction."

To view the webcam progress visit www.dudleycol.ac.uk/Dudley-Learning-Quarter/Dudley-Advance-II/Webcam