Chichester College’s STEM building
Sector: Further Education
Framework: SCAPE Construction framework
Client: Chichester College Group
Location: Chichester, West Sussex
Value: £19m
Completion: 2025
“As the construction partner for this state-of-the-art learning hub, we're proud that we have been able to play a key role in the delivery of a facility that will significantly enhance STEM and Higher Education opportunities at Chichester College. This project was not only about creating modern and interactive spaces for learning but also it was about ensuring that sustainability was at the core of the build, underpinning the future-focused vision of the college. This outcome is a prime example of how construction can support educational excellence and community growth."
Richard Poulter
Managing Director of Willmott Dixon’s central south office
A new, cutting-edge Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Higher Education (HE) learning hub has been created for students in West Sussex.
Chichester College, part of the Chichester College Group, offers a wide range of further and higher education courses including A-Levels, T-Levels, vocational qualifications, apprenticeships and adult education.
Completed in August 2025, ready for the 2025/26 academic year, Willmott Dixon has delivered a new four-storey learning hub for the college through the SCAPE Construction framework. This multi-million-pound investment, delivered as part of a wider departmental improvement plan, provides a purpose-built facility where modern technology is central to teaching and learning.
The new hub was required to deliver dedicated teaching and learning environments for a broad range of subjects, replacing a restrictive, single-storey building. Facilities include modern automotive workshops, engineering and computing suites, advanced science laboratories and a variety of study and communal spaces.
Sustainability was embedded into the project from the outset, influencing both the design approach and material selection. Low-carbon steel produced using electric arc furnaces (EAF) was chosen, offering a more cost-effective and environmentally responsible alternative to traditional steel production. Manufactured predominantly from scrap material, this method avoids the need for virgin steel produced via basic oxygen furnaces (BOF), significantly reducing the energy intensity of the process.
Working with Bond Bryan Architects, the project team designed the building to reduce operational carbon emissions and support long‑term performance. Roof‑mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels were installed to generate 100% renewable electricity on site, helping to power low‑carbon heating and cooling throughout the facility. These include air‑sourced heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems.
Together, these measures will support the long-term use of the building and ensure it continues to meet the needs of students in Chichester for generations to come.
72
week construction programme
4
storey new building
In collaboration with:
Meet the lead:
Vanessa Good
Business Development Manager | South East
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