£12.5m of cutting-edge schemes won by GMI Construction

PROPERTY firm GMI Construction has been instructed to work on two major multi-million pound projects – one involving the creation of an innovative engineering centre for a Yorkshire college.

Kirklees College has revealed plans for a new £7.5m engineering centre in Huddersfield which will provide learning facilities for students, who are also being given the opportunity to engage in the design and build process of a live construction project.

Leeds-based GMI Construction is to undertake the design and build contracts for the new 59,000 sq ft learning facility which will be built off St Andrew’s Road.

In a separate project, GMI Construction is involved on a new £5m medical centre scheme in Headingley, Leeds.

The scheme will see the upper floors of St Michael’s Court building next door to the Arndale Centre converted for medical purposes. 

The Kirklees College building is due to open in September 2012 and the facilities will offer state-of-the-art learning environment for future engineers and motor vehicle experts to develop their skills.

Vice principal, corporate services at Kirklees College, Melanie Brooke said: “We have worked closely with Kirklees Council and our appointed contractor GMI Construction in terms of funding and planning to make this project come to life.

“The new facilities will boost the learners’ experiences at college and give them the best possible skills to take into the work place. We’re really excited to be building two new learning hubs and look forward to delivering the opportunities they present for all.”

Jarrod Best, managing director of GMI Construction Group, said “As a well established construction services company founded in Yorkshire, we are proud that we can play a significant part in the development of a new state-of-the-art campus for Kirklees College. 

“The new facilities are combining extraordinary design features and the professional building services of the team with the dynamic and creative minds of the students – a real community project.”

The project is the second phase of a proposal which was granted funding in September 2009 by the Learning Skills Council, now known as the Skills Funding Agency, for Kirklees College’s new learning facilities.

The Leeds medical centre, once opened in summer 2011, will house two medical practices – Burton Croft and Holly Bank Surgeries. A pharmacy is included in the retail plans for the ground floor.

In a statement issued by the two surgeries, practice managers Lisa Boardman and Simon Beer, said: “We have been searching for a new location for over 10 years and we are delighted that building work on the new surgery is starting. 

“Patients, doctors and staff will all benefit hugely from having modern spacious facilities which will enable us to provide the highest standards of medical care in a more effective way that will, in turn, allow us to develop services fit for the 21st century NHS.”

Chris Gilman, of GMI, said: “After a huge amount of hard work by the Practices and the development team, we are delighted to be starting construction for what will be a superb new health facility for this part of Leeds. “

In addition to 1,300 sq ft of space for the surgery and pharmacy, the developer is building in at an extra 3,800 sq ft of expansion space.

“This will future proof the building allowing for expansion or additional services at a later date in a very cost efficient way,” added Mr Gilman.

The development and build team includes Leeds-based Landmark Healthcare as developers and GMI Construction Group as the design and build contractor.