Eric Wright completes £2.6m Lancashire college project

Eric Wright Construction has finished work on a multi-million pound extension at Cardinal Newman College in Preston.

The firm, part of Eric Wright Group, undertook a 48-week long, £2.6m project to deliver a new four-storey teaching facility comprising seminar and plant rooms, an IT suite and areas for open learning.

Preston-based Ellis Williams Architects provided designs for the centre, which is made up of a 1,569m sq steel frame construct complete with concrete flooring, brickwork and external rendering detailing.

Eric Wright Construction’s managing director, John Wilson, said: “Cardinal Newman College has an outstanding reputation for delivering exceptional teaching and student experiences and these state-of-the-art facilities will bolster academic opportunities for generations to come.

“Colleges are now working extremely hard to ensure their facilities stand tall above the competition and this third phase, along with all previous and future works, will certainly make it stand out to potential students.”

The project is part of a wider plan to enhance Cardinal Newman College’s student facilities, with a two-storey extension of the site’s St Mary’ Building and a five-floor expansion of the St Cecilia Building in the pipeline.

Nick Burnham, the principal of Cardinal Newman College, commented: “The brand new St Francis Building is a wonderful new addition to the College’s already fantastic facilities.

“The expansion comes as the College is also expanding its provision into HE courses, including School Direct, an Initial Teacher Training programme and Foundation Degree courses in Teaching & Learning Support and Early Years.

He added: “We couldn’t be more pleased with how the development has gone and are thrilled with our new building!”

Eric Wright Construction also refurbished the interior of the building’s West Wing and upgraded external facades.

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