Campus Redevelopment
Campus Development Report Summer 2007
1 The new College Building takes shape
With the old College theatre, refectory and kitchens demolished and the site levelled, the foundations are being finished off and the footprint of the new building beginning to appear. The first of two tall cranes is in place ready to start putting the frame-work of the shell together and will shortly be joined by the second. AMEC are on target to complete the building for September 2008 when the first students to benefit from the new facilities will arrive.
Staff are enjoying a birds-eye view of their new College which is rising on land adjacent to the current lower building. Local residents have found the building site an ideal neighbour as the contractors work to strict guidelines to minimise any disruption to the local community and plans which allow the College to enjoy business as usual. The AMEC site is completely isolated by tall hoardings from the College Campus and is accessed directly from Borders Lane for both workers and vehicles.
Meanwhile planning is underway to ensure the layout and facilities in the new building are designed and built to exacting standards and already new systems and working practises are being developed and piloted to allow a seamless transition to the exciting new environment.
2 The changing face of a campus in transition
The key aim of all activity concerned with the transition period has been to maintain “Business as usual”. With the loss of some areas of the lower site, and expansion of courses, additional accommodation has been created across the campus. This includes new temporary classrooms and conversions of areas of spare capacity to general and specialist classrooms. Already the new theatre in the upper site has seen some memorable performances to appreciative audiences in a more intimate performance space. Catering on the lower site has moved to a new home whilst the middle site café and upper site refectory has benefited from a make-over.
During July and August of 2006, a new temporary construction area was developed near the middle buildings to provide accommodation for 14 to 16 year olds. At the same time a new hair salon was created in the middle building with senior managers moving to temporary offices in the library to make way. A similar exercise is planned for these expanding areas during summer 2007 with additional temporary construction facilities on the upper site and a second hair salon planned for the middle building with marketing and finance moving this time into temporary accommodation.
Elsewhere delays to the start of the planned housing development by Redrow has meant the year passing off with little change marked only by the hoardings denoting the initial phase of the building works going up during the final term. With a portion of land beside and behind the upper site now under the ownership of Redrow, vehicle access points and parking have been changed to create one main entrance alongside the lower site and an additional car park behind the library. The college is very fortunate to be able to offer generous parking accommodation to staff and students and this has been maintained during the changes.
3 Planning for the new building and the local community
In line with the needs of the new building, suppliers and systems are being evaluated to start the process of change towards the new model of working required for the new environment. Catering, cleaning and security contracts have all been reviewed with partner companies working towards the move and beyond.
The new campus marks an important milestone for the College and work has begun on reviewing the College ethos and brand to bring it in line with the aspirations of the new building and expectations of future generations of students, the staff and local community. This work will culminate in the opening of a brand new facility home to a community with a clear sense of direction and heightened expectations.
The new campus stands centrally in an area of major investment. Recent business and retail development will soon be joined by the refurbishment of Debden Underground Station and the adjacent Broadway shopping area leading directly to the new College entrance. A proposed new College Sports Centre on the adjacent field will provide a range of facilities for students and the local community alike. Beyond the campus, Redrow’s new development, The Rodings, will offer much needed modern and affordable housing and the grade two listed Loughton Hall will undergo a complete restoration returning its appearance to its former glory.
