A NEW £1.8m information technology centre has been unveiled at Huddersfield New College.
The sixth-form centre at Salendine Nook now offers 12 classrooms providing 24 computer workstations, rooms for practical computer lessons and an editing suite for film studies students.
Office accommodation for 20 teaching staff is featured and a cafe seating 120 people with healthy food on the menu.
The new centre was opened by the college's chairman of governors Hillary Thornton.
She has been a governor since 1992 and has led many of the investment projects at the college.
College principal Philip Forrest said: "The college now has the outstanding facilities our students and teachers deserve.
"The students' academic achievements have been consistently excellent.
"We will continue to strive to provide them with a first class learning environment."
The new IT centre is the latest in a string of investments at the college.
Projects totalling £8m have been carried out since 1996.
The centre was designed by architects Aedas and built by local firm Headman Construction.
Improvements carried out to the college since 1996 include:
* Opening a sports centre.
* Refurbishing art, science and design blocks.
* Converting a redundant gym into a conference and guidance centre.
* Building a four classroom health and social care centre.
* Creating an outdoor all-weather sports pitch and changing rooms.
* Converting the school hall into a library.
* Converting old boiler rooms into a performing arts centre.
* Adding a conservatory extension to the students' social and dining area.
* Replacing the east wing with a modern building housing a study centre and business studies, maths and languages rooms.
