NEWCASTLE-BASED contractor Surgo Construction has been awarded a £3.2m contract to deliver a refurbishment project at South Tyneside College’s Westoe campus.
The works will see Surgo remodel areas of the campus to include a dedicated Marine School building and entrance, refurbish existing facilities and construct new teaching areas.
Surgo director Jeff Alexander said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by South Tyneside College for this latest project in their redevelopment process, and to be given the opportunity to work once again with the college’s team.
“It is gratifying that, once again, our experience and competitiveness has been recognised and we will be pulling out all of the stops to ensure that the success of this productive working relationship is continued.”
When complete, the project will enable South Tyneside College to continue with its vision for modern learning environments for the further education, higher education and maritime courses it offers.
Late last year, the college announced it had been successful in a bid to secure an enhanced renewal funding grant (phase 2) from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) for the works.
Lindsey Whiterod, principal and chief executive of South Tyneside College said: “Surgo Construction excelled on many of the criteria set out in the tender, including their previous experience of similar schemes and commitment to sustainability.”
Mike Foggon, regional director at Faithful+Gould’s Newcastle office, who heads up the project team, said: “Following the highly successful completion of the last refurbishment phase in 2011, I am confident that this established team will deliver the college’s vision to provide state of the art educational facilities.”
The building firm has won a series of housing and education schemes in recent months, and has started on a £1.3m project for improvements at Redcar Community College and £2.3m contract with Isos Housing in North Tyneside.
The work with Isos is at the housing association’s Coronation Street site in Wallsend. Surgo has taken on a 35- week contract to construct a timber- framed, brick-faced building containing 28 apartments over four floors, and will also build two houses and two Tyneside-style flats at the site.
The college contract is a 21-week project to improve the front facade of the existing building and provide accommodation for the Adult Learning Service which is due for completion by the end of next month.
It is also constructing the £8.3m innovative Redcar Hub, which will provide a centre and high-quality workspace for digital and creative industries from across the area.
The Hub building is in a prominent position on Redcar’s seafront and will help to create 60 new jobs and support 50 businesses.