Students are getting ready to move into a brand new state-of-the-art college in West Bromwich.
Finishing touches are being made to the modern building, which now dominates the skyline in the town centre. Students and staff will be moving into their home early in 2012.
Up to 10,000 full and part time students will use the building in Spoon Lane, which will replace Sandwell College’s three campuses in Oldbury, Smethwick and West Bromwich. These will eventually be closed and sold off.
The building includes an automotive centre, beauty and hairdressing salons, computer suites, construction workshops, engineering laboratories, fashion and photography studios, restaurant kitchens, a sports hall and a theatre. Trainee dental nurses will be able to practise in an imitation surgery, and travel and tourism students will train in a mock-up aircraft cabin.
The three-storey building will also have state-of-the-art digital and interactive technology. There will be a student-run training restaurant and a student-run travel agency and students will be able to make use of a food hall, bar and European-style piazza. The facility has cost £80m to build.
College vice principal Scott Upton said: “This is really important. We need people to see that things are changing around here in a big way.
“So, the new college will act like a beacon, showing people that they do have opportunities to improve their prospects and become qualified for life.
“Hopefully, the wider regeneration project for West Bromwich can now forge ahead.
“We look forward to providing the local community with a new college that they can be proud of.”
The college building is visible for miles and can be seen from the M5 motorway.