Olympic Gold Medalist opens new buildings at St Brendan's

Olympic Gold medalist Amy Williams officially opened and Bishop Declan Lang blessed new buildings at St Brendan's Sixth Form College in Bristol.

Amy in a very natural speech told the congregated visitors, students and staff about how she became the first woman winter Olympian in over 60 years and how the team that supported her were as much part of the award as she was herself.

Bishop Declan meanwhile talked about the College and how much it meant to the community.

The building works which have taken two years to complete and cost £20 million include new equipment and facilities for all subject areas including a theatre, sports hall, dance studio, art facilities including studio and dark room, library, chapel, science laboratories and social space for students. The completion of the outside landscape provides further social space, an amphitheatre for outdoor performances, a water feature, boule court and a court for tennis, netball and basketball.

The College, which has been extremely fortunate to receive funding for the project at a time when major cuts are happening in the public sector finds itself oversubscribed for a second year running.

Ann Barrow Principal commented, "The quality of the environment makes a significant difference to the way students feel valued and cared for. The ethos of the College and the new university style facilities change the way students work and use the space around them."

The building was designed by NVB architects and project managed by King Sturge. The building was completed on time and in budget by ISG Pearce and funded by the Learning and Skills Council.

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