Princethorpe College to add 10 new laboratories as part of £8m science centre development
On Thursday 6 January, Trustees of the Princethorpe Foundation approved the commencement of work on Princethorpe College’s new £8m science centre.
Princethorpe College was opened in 1966, becoming fully co-educational in 1995. Soon after Princethorpe partnered with Junior school St Joseph’s (now Crackley Hall School) and what is known today as the Princethorpe Foundation was formed. The partnership also includes Crescent School and the Little Crackers Nursery.
The state-of-the-art new Science Centre will feature 10 laboratories in a development that transform the College’s entire campus as other departments will now be housed within the main school building and areas free to be redeveloped.
The main building of the project will be handled by Trendgrey Construction Limited, who are familiar with the Princethorpe Foundation having completed the Sixth Form Resource Centre in 2014 and developments at Crackley Hall in 2016 and most recently at Crescent School last year.
With Princethorpe once again entrusting this transformation to Trendgrey, who are based out of nearby Stockton, local contractors will be awarded the opportunity to work on the development, in a move that benefits the local area both economically and in terms of sustainability as this helps to lower transport miles for materials suppliers.
Preparatory work has now begun, with the contractor to move onto the site over February half-term. The work is expected to be completed and the Science Centre opened in time for the start of the 2023/24 academic year.
Headmaster Ed Hester, who will take on the role of Head of the entire foundation from September 2022, is delighted to see that the College’s vision will ‘now become a reality’:
“It is fantastic that our vision for the future of Princethorpe will now become a reality. This announcement is great news for the Princethorpe community; the Science Centre project brings with it so many exciting campus-wide benefits and these cutting-edge teaching and learning facilities will inspire generations of Princethorpe pupils and staff for years to come.”
Liz Griffin, Chair of Trustees, added:
“The Trustees are delighted to give approval for work to commence on the Science Centre at Princethorpe. This really is a landmark decision in the strategic development of the College and is testament to the strong position the Foundation finds itself in today. Many congratulations to Trendgrey on being awarded the contract after a very competitive tendering process.”
She continues, “Our thanks go to all the donors who have contributed so generously to the fundraising for the project, our Science Campaign Board, the Science Working Group, our professional advisors, AT Architects, Ainsleys, Richard Strauss Associates and Couch, Perry and Wilkes, and of course the Senior Leadership Team for all their hard work.”
The Princethorpe Foundation nurture and support the development of around 1,400 children across their schools.