Revealed: First glimpse of new £12m campus for Dudley College
This is the first glimpse of a new £12 million campus that will be built at Dudley College.
The new centre - to be known as Dudley Advance II - would complete the college's learning quarter and be part-funded by its controversial contract with Saudi Arabia.
It will be positioned alongside the £7 million manufacturing and engineering building Dudley Advance which opened in September 2014.
A formal planning application has been submitted to Dudley Council for the Centre for Advanced Construction Technologies.
The college's principal Lowell Williams said: "Along with our new 3G football pitch, Advance II represents the last critical element in the development of the Dudley Learning Quarter.
"Who would have thought some six years ago that this part of Dudley town centre could have been regenerated in such an dramatic and inspirational way.
"Not only will Advance II be a fantastic building in itself, but more importantly it will help transform the construction industry in the region.
"This will lead to more young people and adults developing the higher technical level skills they need for future careers in a changing construction industry."
As previously reported by the Express & Star, the college has won a three-year deal to mentor staff in the Middle Eastern country and create three new learning establishments.
Staff will work alongside Saudi teachers in improving the performance of the new colleges, including best practice on teaching and the curriculum, English language skills and leadership training.
Cash from the deal was earmarked to help complete work on the Learning Quarter.
The new 37,000 sq ft centre includes specialist workshops, classrooms, project spaces and resource areas and student welfare and support facilities focused around a four-storey 'internal building site' called The Hanger.
According to a planning statement submitted with the application, the new centre will be a 'contemporary design which closely reflects the curriculum uses within, whilst paying sufficient respect in massing terms to its immediate context'.
"It should offer an exciting, stimulating learning environment which will be a landmark, not just to inspire students, but make a visible statement of confidence in Dudley, its regeneration and its future."
