Bradford College Officially Opens STEM Building After £6.9m Refurb

BRADFORD, U.K. - Dec. 9, 2024 - PRLog -- A multimillion-pound renovation project has transformed the derelict mill on Thornton Road into a flexible digital, science, and allied health training facility for higher-level students.

The 1900s five-storey building opened after months of construction work supported by £5.8 million in funding from The Office for Students (OfS) Higher Education Capital Fund and a £1.1 million College contribution.

The site is now Bradford College's dedicated building for HNC, HND, and degree programmes in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), including digital and ophthalmic courses. The site supplements the extensive STEM facilities established across other College campuses.

Contractors Tilbury Douglas led the Garden Mills project and installation of industry-standard equipment, including six digital IT labs, an ophthalmic dispensing suite, a prep room, a clinical suite, a real-life work environment with consulting and testing booths, a collaboration area, and academic teaching spaces.

Bradford College Director of People Services, Sarah Cooper, addressed invited guests, which included employers from digital and ophthalmic industries such as Specsavers and the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, as well as representatives from Bradford Council and the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Sarah said:

"We are thrilled that this incredible new learning environment is now open to our staff and students, and I'm sure you'll agree it is a wonderful new addition to both Bradford College's estate and the resources available to the local community.

"We're delighted that Garden Mills is now ready for staff and students. It is an essential part of our estates strategy and perfectly demonstrates our ambition of opening up pioneering student careers that support regional growth."

After speeches, guests enjoyed a tour of the new cutting-edge Garden Mills facilities which concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Bradford College CEO & Principal, Chris Webb.

Garden Mills is one of several current Bradford College capital developments. Over the last two years, Bradford College secured nearly £32 million in funding, which is being used to enhance, refurbish, and build aspirational new facilities in the heart of Bradford.

Find out more about the Garden Mills project and other ongoing capital projects:www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/capitalprojects