Willmott Dixon starts second phase of redevelopment at Oaklands College

Willmott Dixon has started the second phase of redevelopment at Oaklands College in St Albans, after successfully handing over the brand-new Residential Homestead building in the summer.

The building will be named The Evolution Centre which was chosen after a consultation with staff and students, to represent the importance it will have in the development of the College’s staff and students. The new environment will allow teachers to focus on supporting the development of students, through skills, behaviours, building confidence and removing barriers.

The centre will contain 49 new classrooms, as well as support spaces for curriculum staff. Seven of the classrooms will form a dedicated wing for Oaklands College’s Pathway 4 special needs provision.

At the beginning of the project, early electrical connections were made to enable the tower crane, site and welfare to run from this for the whole project rather than relying on diesel generators.

The project is also utilising the local St Albans based community wood recycling to ensure that timber is reused rather than wasted.

Once completed in 2021, it will be the core learning building on campus. 

Chris Tredget, managing director at Willmott Dixon said: “We are thrilled to be continuing to work with Oaklands College on the second phase of their St Albans Campus redevelopment. After delivering the Homestead building in the summer, we are now underway with the Evolution Centre and look forward to creating a new teaching space that will benefit the college and students for years to come.” 

Zoe Hancock, principal of Oaklands College said: “The Evolution Centre will house 49 classrooms and will be a centre for technical, academic and vocational education. It will transform the learning experience for our students, and we are really looking forward to its completion in autumn 2021.”