BUCKS UTC Marks Completion with Key Handover

Keys to the new £10m campus for Buckinghamshire University Technical College (UTC) have been officially handed over, to mark the state-of-the-art building’s completion ahead of the UTC’s official opening next week.

BAM Construction, which was awarded the contract to build the new UTC, formally entrusted the keys to Principal Bev Flanagan after putting the finishing touches to the new facilities. The 5,000m² purpose-built campus, houses teaching space for up to 600 students and has taken just under a year to complete.

Principal, Bev Flanagan was delighted to receive the keys to the new building two weeks before the students start. She commented: “BAM have been so effective in bringing this build in ahead of time and I look forward to opening the doors to our students on 16 September. This fantastic new facility will ensure our students are given the very best learning environment. It will enhance their education experience and help us to ensure our young people are ready for work and well qualified for their chosen career in either IT or Construction related sectors.”

The new building, which is located alongside Aylesbury College on the new Buckinghamshire Integrated Learning Campus, includes high-tech IT facilities and bespoke construction workshops. Sponsor Cisco has supplied specialist networking equipment, which students will be able to use as part of training to become qualified Cisco engineers, and the facilities have also been equipped with 3D printers to create rapid prototypes of product ideas.

Carpentry, brickwork, painting and decorating, and electrical skills will all benefit from purpose-built workshops with the latest equipment. The UTC also aims to reduce the skills shortage in a number of heritage construction practices, such as wattle and daub renovation and stone masonry, with specially-designed areas for learning techniques.

The high-tech building also boasts a range of sustainable design features, including photovoltaic solar cells on the roof and natural ventilation for learning spaces.