Nottingham College will soon be opening its doors to a new City Hub building.
The Hub, which will open this September, will be the college’s first project to launch since the merge of New College Nottingham and Central College Nottingham in 2017.
Located opposite the expanding Broadmarsh Centre, the Hub is part of a £58 million investment for education in Nottingham.
It also forms a part of a council-run scheme to regenerate the south of Nottingham’s city centre.
Location of the new hub
Mark McNamee, 53, the Area Facilities Manager at Nottingham College, said the new Hub building would open up accessibility in the south of the city centre.
“From our point of view, it will be improved even more once all of that infrastructure is complete. It works both ways for Nottingham and Nottingham College,” he said.
The new campus will also locate underneath the tram overpass at the foot of the Lace Market Cliff, which will allow an opportunity for students to commute to college via tram or the train.
Students will be able to travel there via bus with the bus stop on Canal Street.
Facilities
The Hub will offer new community facilities such as a new training restaurant, café and performing arts centre.
However, one facility that the Hub would not be offering is a new TV studio.
Paul Bateman, the Media Technician at Nottingham College, attributed this to the ceiling height of the Hub.
Mr Bateman said that there would only be two photography studios at the Hub compared to the three studios located at the campus on Maid Marian Way.
That’s not the only thing that some staff are unsure about.
“I think there are some concerns about whether or not the office spaces are going to be fit for purpose,” said Mr Bateman.
“Staff like to have their own space rather than hot desking.”
Students
Nottingham College has pledged that the Hub will “create a safe and secure place for learners”.
The college will also allow students an opportunity to gain work experience on the Hub site during the summer.
This experience will enable students to develop their skills further and make industry contacts.
Luiza Alves, 23, a Film and Television Production student at Nottingham College, said that the Hub will allow the college “to grow with the technology” after its creation from the merger.