A LOCAL contractor has been appointed for the construction of the new £29 million South West College campus in Co Fermanagh.
Enniskillen firm Tracey Brothers has been chosen as the main contractor for the construction and development of the new Erne Campus, situated on the site of the former Erne Hospital in the town. The new campus, due for completion in January 2020, will replace the existing site at Gaol Square and sit alongside the new £4.5 million Northern Ireland Ambulance Service centre, which officially opened its doors last month.
Construction on the new 8,200 sq m building is due to begin in March and once complete will provide employment for over 200 people, including a number of apprenticeship roles. The new campus has been designed by Hamilton Architects, and will see the delivery of the first educational building worldwide to achieve the highest international standard in environmental construction – PassivHaus Premium, ranking it alongside prestigious buildings such as the Apple Campus 2 in California, in terms of sustainable innovation and design.
Once open it is hoped the new campus will further enhance the College’s existing global reputation in the sustainable construction sector and help attract international companies and students in this field.
Director of further education at the Department for the Economy, Beverley Harrison said the new campus demonstrates the department’s commitment to further education and to delivering the skills needed to grow the local economy.
"As well as the immediate boost to the local construction sector, the new building will showcase the potential role which further education can play in supporting and developing the local economy and marketing Norther Ireland on a world stage."
South West College chief executive, Michael McAlister said they are on the cusp of an "exciting new era", with the launch of the Erne Campus project.
"Students, parents and employers alike will all see huge opportunities emanate from the new development and we look forward to sharing the college’s journey into the first PassivHaus Premium development on this scale, with the business and education community in the UK, and our wider, global network of educational partners.”
Fermanagh-based Tracey Brothers said the new contract will provide a significant number of job opportunities in the locality.
"This contract award is testament to Tracey Brothers’ expertise in delivering high quality and innovative design and build projects," director John Tracey said.
"This is a market we have developed a strong reputation in and we look forward to working closely with the college on this landmark education development. It is all the more pleasing that the development will see life brought back to this strategically important site within Enniskillen and at the same time provide much needed stimulus to the local construction industry and wider economy."
