STEPNELL has started work on a new teaching and sports facility at Loughborough College, following a £9.91m investment from the Department for Education. Through its ongoing relationships with Loughborough College, Stepnell is delivering the work as part of the college’s wider development plan, with more than £35m being invested in large projects across the campus, such as the East Midlands Institute of Technology and Digital Skills Hub. Stepnell is implementing a fabric-first approach in the construction of the sports hub, prioritising the building's envelope, ensuring maximum thermal efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and enhancing the overall sustainability of the facility. Tom Sewell, regional director at Stepnell, said: “Our expertise in further education and leisure positions us strongly to deliver sustainable facilities that are exceptional in both specification and as a facility to develop talent at the intersection of sport and academia.” The construction of the new facility is set to be completed by next summer, opening its doors to students shortly after, with its facilities set to offer unparalleled access to world-class sports facilities and flexible learning spaces for students. Corrie Harris, principal and CEO at Loughborough College said: “This project aligns with Loughborough College's vision to be at the forefront of sports education and training. We are proud to offer our current and future students the opportunity to access this pioneering development, and we look forward to continuing to nurture upcoming athletic talent.” The college was one of just 62 colleges across the country to be successful in the bid for grant funding from the DfE’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund (FECTF), and this project is part of an overall £35 million of investment in the development of the campus, facilities, and resources. Stepnell starts work on new sports hub at Loughborough THE University of Hertfordshire’s flagship, multi-million-pound Spectra building met an important milestone recently, as it reached practical completion. The keys for the five-floor building, which will house the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science and transform learning, teaching and research in STEM fields, have now officially been handed over to the University from lead contractor Morgan Sindall Construction. The development was procured under the Southern Construction Framework (SCF), a quality-managed collaborative construction framework for public bodies to procure major building works using a two-stage open book process to deliver best value. Set to open its doors for the start of the new academic year, Spectra will be the largest single structure on campus and will be a hub for innovation, research and enterprise. Its cutting-edge facilities and equipment will expand Herts’ range of study and research options and increase its capacity for high quality, real-world research impact. New facilities within the building will mirror the working environments in students’ future careers. They include modelling, simulation and research labs, flight simulators, an automotive workshop complete with electric vehicle facility, a wind tunnel, welding bay and controls testing suite. Students will have access to state-of-the-art cyber security facilities while the upper floors will provide space for workshops, research and computer science, as well as social and meeting spaces to collaborate and socialise. Beyond Herts, it will benefit the local community, become a catalyst for regional growth by providing specialist services to regional businesses and fill crucial skills gaps in STEM industries nationwide. Professor Quintin McKellar, ViceChancellor at the University of Hertfordshire, said: “This remarkable space will inspire our students to become the next generation of leading engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians and physicists, and is a testament to our investment in high quality learning, innovation and the wider community.” Keys exchanged for University of Hertfordshire’s flagship Spectra building 24 highereducationestates news
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