Wednesday March 10, 2010.

News and Events

College Surplus helps hospital - January 22nd 2010

Surplus equipment and furniture, including historical art works, from the College's relocation have been sold off for a good cause. As part of our move to the new building in Hamilton, we disposed of some of the old buildings equipment and furniture. The money received for the surplus equipment was given to the Leicester General Hospital stroke unit.
 
The donation was a tribute to the deputy principal, Nigel Proctor, who was the internal project manager for the relocation project before suffering a stroke early last year.
 
Mr Proctor was treated at the stroke unit as part of his rehabilitation. He presented a cheque for more than1,500 to the unit on behalf of the College.

The money is to be spent on improving facilities and buying equipment for use by people who undergo rehabilitation at the unit. The 'shopping list' includes computer equipment to aid physical activity, balance and co-ordination.

College principal Nick Goffin said: "Nigel Proctor's work on the relocation project was central to the successful build and completion on time and to cost.
"The College's governors, staff and students felt that the extra funds donated should be spent on something that thanked the hospital for their work on Nigel's rehabilitation.
"It also commemorates his activity on the project in a constructive way."
 
 

Royal Opening - November 5th 2009

The Countess, with her interest in the development of children and those with special learning needs, visited the students working on health and social care courses, and in the College's 'Skills Development Service' area. The latter offers support in numeracy and literacy as well as specialist courses for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. She had a particular interest in the new student flat that allows students to enhance their personal independence skills by overnight stays in the specialist facilities, having previously learnt the basic independence survival skills in the training areas.

August 2009 - New Build Finished!

August 3rd 2009 - Official Key Handing Over Ceremony
After over eight years of discussion and planning the new Gateway College in Hamilton has been handed over at a 'Key Ceremony' form the builders ISG. College Principal Nick Goffin and Chair of Governors Canon Michael Wilson received the keys from ISG's Joe Webb and Pat Homer an informal ceremony on Monday.

Rainwater Recycling - Giant Tank Installed

Rainwater Tank
An 18 metre long tank with a capacity of 56000 litres of rainwater was installed at Leicester's Gateway College recently. The new tank will supply the 'grey water' to flush toilets throughout the new 33m College development. Rainwater will be collected via the roof and flow into the tank ready to be used, thus saving on treated mains water and recycling natural resources in a value for money process.
 
The College which will open on the new site in August 2009 is ambitious in its aim to reduce its carbon footprint and has a wide range of other 'green elements'. These include a 15m wind turbine that is being built on the flattened site of a medieval windmill excavated previously as part of the project, as well as biomass boilers with locally sourced wood pellets as fuel. The College entrance is also covered in PV cells as it faces south for maximum sunlight.
 
College Principal Nick Goffin reiterated;
"We have always had the ambition to build a zero carbon college but the costs of some aspects have been too high. However we have maintained key features such as natural ventilation and building orientation in the design and will use a 'Thin Client IT System' that will reduce air conditioning needs".
With 'intelligent lighting', SUDS implementation and a positive green travel policy, the College, which will have a Sustrans National Cycle route through the campus, is moving in the right direction. As Mr Goffin says "Sustainability and education about environmental issues are at the heart of the nation's future. We need to both work with young people and planners and architects to ensure a sustainable learning environment."

The College plans to make the 'Energy Centre' - rendered in green to match the philosophy - open to local schoolchildren who will also be able to observe the energy flow created from the wind turbine, as part of this environmental education. The College will open in August 2009 with its 'Street' and 'Pod' design offering an exciting but sustainable learning environment for the twenty-first century.