Second UTC for Sheffield appoints BAM to commence construction

BAM is currently on the Park building the Oasis Academy Don Valley. UTC 2 Sheffield will specialise in human sciences and computing, preparing students for employment in two of the key growth sectors in the Sheffield City Region. It will open in September 2016, and hold 600 pupils aged 14 to 19.

Specialist teaching facilities on the ground and first floors of the four-storey building will support the specialisms. A central atrium will create spacious, light, learning environments. Second and third floor terraces and a dining space on the third level will offer excellent views of the Olympic Legacy Park, which will include a community playing pitch for rugby league side Sheffield Eagles, a community basketball arena which will be home to the Sheffield Sharks, the Oasis Academy, the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre and public cycle ways.

UTC 2 Sheffield will source 10 per cent of its energy from renewable sources with Sheffield’s district heating presently being considered. All plant is designed to meet the EFA’s facilities output specification ensuring efficient and robust solutions are provided throughout.

BAM intends to move most of its Oasis Academy team over to the UTC project and to work with many of the same suppliers, including local firms Sothall Roofing, Brebur, Jumbo Partitions and Smith’s Decorators.

Project Director Paul Cleminson said: ‘It is fantastic for BAM to continue our relationships at the Olympic Legacy Park and to contribute more cutting edge facilities for its future.

These will be first class facilities for students to learn critical skills that employers in Sheffield will need. We look forward to working with the local community to maximise the benefits of the project.’

Work is due to start on site in October, with the UTC opening September 2016.

The Sheffield College, Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry are working together to deliver UTC 2 Sheffield.

Andrew Cropley, Executive Director, Strategic Planning and Business Development, The Sheffield College, said: ‘We are very pleased to be working with BAM to deliver an extraordinary school for 14 to 19-year-olds. The design makes the very best of the site and will provide an incredible learning environment for our students, with remarkable neighbours. BAM's experience of this site and of building UTCs gives us even greater confidence that our building will be ready to welcome students from across Sheffield and beyond for September 2016.’

UTC 2 Sheffield will provide students with academic qualifications and technical skills for the human sciences and computing sectors. This includes healthcare technology, sports science, exercise medicine and wellbeing, which are all key growth sectors in the Sheffield City Region.

Employers will influence the building design and be central to the curriculum. IT employers including Goldfish Systems, Sero Consulting and Yoomee are also on the board of the UTC, along with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the city’s rugby league and basketball teams and other private sector partners.

BAM has undertaken a series of major projects in Sheffield in the past decade, including the University of Sheffield Arts Tower, Information Commons Building, Cantor Building and a laboratory rationalisation project for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The public can find out more about UTC 2 Sheffield at a community event at the English Institute of Sport, Coleridge Road, on Tuesday July 14th from 5.30pm to 7.00pm. For more information and to book a place, go to: http://www.utc2sheffield.org.uk/

Further information: Mark Slattery, press and media manager, BAM Construct UK Ltd, 01442 238415.