Bournemouth and Poole College will welcome the first students into its £37million Compass Building when it opens its doors in Bournemouth on 2 September.
More than two years in the making, the project, undertaken by Kier Construction, has delivered both state-of-the-art facilities and investment in Bournemouth’s heritage, with the restoration of original college buildings dating back to 1910 – including the iconic clock tower.
The new four-storey building provides amazing learning environments for up to 1,000 students studying business, catering and hospitality, digital and computing, hair and beauty, media, sport, travel and tourism and uniformed public services. Facilities include brand new IT suites, a specialist media ‘green screen’ studio, and a training centre for travel and tourism students, featuring part of a real passenger jet’s fuselage and cabin, and a working departure lounge.
The new Compass Building also houses Escoffier, a 66-seat restaurant and bar open to the public, where hospitality and catering students can hone their skills in a real-world environment. With separate areas for meat and fish preparation, a pastry kitchen, and cutting-edge equipment and fixtures throughout, Escoffier has been designed to replicate the kitchens found in top hotels and restaurants.
The new Horizon Hair and Beauty salons have also been designed and equipped to professional standards. Like Escoffier, they are open to members of the public, allowing students to develop their techniques across a host of treatments for real clients.
On the top floor of the building is the college’s 160-seat eating, social and events space, The Observatory, while the ground floor offers a brand-new sports hall, gym and climbing wall. Outside, new lawns and walkways complete the transformation.
The crowning glory is the £12million restoration of the college’s 150ft clock tower, painstakingly returned to its former glory by specialist craftsmen and masons.
An initial drone survey catalogued extensive damage caused by exposure to the weather and salty sea air over more than a century before conservation contractor Stonewest carried out façade cleaning, and expert masons built replacements for the tower’s four column heads, known as capitals. Craftsmen carefully recreated their intricate scrolled shoulders and flowered tulip details in Purbeck stone to faithfully match the original.
Stonemason Nathan Smith, who worked on the restoration, said: “Stonemasonry as a trade is in decline, so it is great to keep it alive on this building, especially where so many tradespeople such as construction workers are trained.”
Although the tower itself was part of the original building, the clock and bell were not installed until 1919 when they were donated by Anne Croft, mother of MP Henry Croft, as a gift to the town.
Phil Sayles, Principal of Bournemouth and Poole College, said:
“The opening of the Compass Building marks a significant investment in the future of our students, employers and the wider community. This is about much more than a new college building; it is about providing opportunities and ensuring local people have access to the skills, facilities and experiences they need to succeed. Every aspect of the facility has been designed with the future in mind. From specialist teaching spaces and industry-standard facilities to real-world environments in our Escoffier Restaurant and Horizon Salons, our students will learn in spaces that reflect the workplaces they are preparing to enter. By working closely with employers and understanding the skills local industries need now and in the future, we can ensure our curriculum and facilities continue to support a strong, skilled workforce.”
