New Campus Glasgow

Landmark Marine Skills Centre completes on time, on budget

It’s official! Construction work on the Marine Skills Centre – the first landmark in the New Campus Glasgow supercampus for City of Glasgow College – is now complete. And we’re happy to report that the project has been delivered on time and on budget.

Our contractor, C Spencer Ltd, completed the construction work for the end of April as planned. Over the next couple of weeks, they will clear the site of all the supporting materials, structures and buildings to reveal this beautiful new addition to the Clyde waterfront in all its glory.

Once it is handed over to the College, staff will install all the remaining furniture and IT equipment. The aim is to have the building fully operational from mid-May. A formal opening ceremony is being organised to coincide with the awards ceremony for Maritime and Engineering Students scheduled for 25th June. Further details will be released shortly.

The free fall lifeboat installed in the river is already fully operational and has already been given a couple of test runs. It’s very impressive to see it launched as it creates quite a splash as it impacts on and into the river – a sensation not apparently that noticeable for those inside. The facility is unique for a Nautical College and the only example of the equipment as fitted on board many modern ships in the UK. Already interest is being shown in the training courses that it will facilitate by several marine employers.

Richard Speight, project sponsor said: “I’m delighted that the Marine Skills Centre has been completed on time and on budget and everyone here at the College can’t wait to start using it. The severe weather over the festive period did it’s best to derail the project, but thanks to the tenacity and commitment of the whole team – from Spencers, to New Campus Glasgow, to the staff here at the College – we have delivered within these two hugely important constraints.”

Iain Marley, Programme Director for New Campus Glasgow added: “It’s a privilege to be able to deliver such a key part of New Campus Glasgow so early on in the overall programme. Having just signed off the concept designs for the main building project, the Marine Skills Centre whets the appetite for what’s still to come. The fact that staff and students are desperate to make use of the facilities shows what a key addition they are to the educational experience of nautical students in Glasgow. We look forward to delivering the same benefits to other students of City of Glasgow College.”