Southern Regional College (SRC) has appointed Felix O'Hare and Company Limited as principal contractor for a £14.5 million Innovation Centre in Newry.

The facility will be constructed on the Newry East Campus car park on Patrick Street, Newry, the former site of Newry Sports Centre. Funded by the Department for the Economy, the project supports SRC’s plan to streamline its Newry estate and strengthen its presence on Patrick Street with modern, future-focused education infrastructure.

Construction is scheduled to begin early next year, with the centre expected to welcome students from September 2027. The development is intended to contribute to Newry’s regeneration, broaden access to high-quality professional and technical education across the region and create jobs for local people.

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Welcoming the appointment, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA, Minister for the Economy, said: "This £14.5 million project, fully funded by my Department, aligns closely with my economic vision. The award of this contract gives Newry City and the wider area a significant boost through the expansion of access to high-quality vocation and technical training provision.

"I look forward to seeing construction commence on site next year ahead of the new Innovation Centre opening its doors to students in September 2027."

Headquartered in Newry, Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd has over a century of experience delivering major builds. Its portfolio includes SRC’s state-of-the-art Armagh Campus, which opened in September 2020, Queen’s University Belfast’s multi-million-pound Student Centre and School of Law, and Dublin City University’s Albert College, among other projects.

Designed by McAdam Design and granted full planning approval earlier this year, the two-storey centre will cover 2,223m2. It will provide student-centred spaces that encourage innovation and creativity across further and higher education, including a dedicated project-based learning area, collaborative workspaces and breakout zones, all developed with strong sustainability and energy-efficiency credentials.