A major milestone has been celebrated on Southern Regional College's new £35 million campus in Armagh, with the building reaching its highest point.

Located on the existing Lonsdale Road site, the 14,000 square-metre campus stands 18.4 metres tall and will house a blend of specialist accommodation designed to facilitate professional and technical education and training. It will also include learning facilities required for students studying at degree and postgraduate levels. 

A number of key representatives were on hand to celebrate the milestone.

Southern Regional College Chief Executive, Brian Doran, said: "I'm delighted to see for myself how quickly things have moved forward from when we were here to mark the construction work commencing last spring.

"It's so exciting to see many very notable and visible milestones being reached on schedule, with the full steel structure now firmly in place, in addition to concrete floors, stairs and roof coverings. With internal walls now being positioned and mechanical and electrical installations under way, there's a real momentum gathering behind the build."

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Neil Madeley, from the Further Education Estates Division at the Department for the Economy, welcomed the progress.

He added: "With clearing, demolition and enabling works complete and the full structure now firmly in place, we're now at a really exciting phase of the project where we are starting to focus on the many more interesting aspects of the build such as the internal environment.

"This is an important and significant investment for the community in Armagh and the wider region. It confirms our commitment to provide state-of-the art facilities where Further and Higher Education can continue to transform lives and communities in a modern, skills-focused economy where careers blossom and businesses thrive."

It is being developed by Newry-based construction firm Felix O'Hare alongside designers WYG Group and Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects.

Key features of the new build include the provision of innovation hubs, a new Learning Resource Centre, integrated student social areas and Learning Support services, in addition to specialist spaces to support practical and theory-based learning in ceramics, photography, fine art, dance, music, performing arts, hair and beauty.

Felix O'Hare is working towards the next project milestone, with the new window systems, internal walls and cladding for the external walls due for completion shortly.

The new SRC Armagh campus is scheduled to open in 2020.

(CM/MH)