Totty Construction - Offices Development - Wigan, Wigan & Leigh College

Date: 24 Nov 2005

The high-profile project to build a £12.5 million centre for construction, engineering and technology for Wigan & Leigh College has reached a major milestone in its development with a topping out ceremony held at the Pagefield site. Neil Turner, MP for Wigan (Labour), joined College Principal, Jim Crewdson, Construction Director of Totty Construction's Public Sector division, Shaun Pearson, Wigan & Leigh College Chairman of Governors, Richard Waterfield, and Dave Williams from architects Turner & Townsend, to mark this momentous occasion.

Totty Construction is well on schedule to complete the new three-storey teaching block in time for the new 2006 academic year and the topping out ceremony is significant in marking the completion of the main structure of the new building. This project is part of a wider £30 million investment by Wigan & Leigh College to further enhance facilities at its Wigan campus, with Totty also involved in the creation of a new "Wigan School for the Arts" at the Linacre Building.

Jim Crewdson commented: "The ceremony marks a hugely important moment in the development and future aspirations of Wigan & Leigh College to provide one of the most comprehensive complexes in the North West for the education and training of the students, apprentices and trades people of the future."

The purpose-built centre will provide first-rate facilities in a range of teaching and specialist workshop areas, hosting courses from civil engineering and bricklaying, to carpentry, painting, decorating, plumbing and interior design. It will house the College's work in electrical installation, electronic engineering and motor vehicle engineering. The centre will also be the base for professional courses in business, finance, management, counselling, teacher education and trade union studies.

Shaun Pearson explained: "The new teaching and training centre at Pagefield is really taking shape now that the erection of the structural steel frame has been completed. This latest milestone in the development of this hugely important facility for Wigan & Leigh College is a testament to the close working relationship between contractor and client. Once it is completed, students will benefit from a purpose-built facility supporting a comprehensive range of vocational courses, further enhancing the growing reputation of the College within the UK and abroad."

Pictured from R-L: MP Neil Turner, Jim Crewdson, Shaun Pearson, Richard Waterfield and Dave Williams

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