The Housing Innovation & Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) has been handed over to Sunderland College, which will complete the fit-out ahead of opening in September.
Sunderland City Council and Sunderland College, part of Education Partnership North East, partnered to develop the facility to train people to make factory-built homes.
HICSA is backed by Homes England and the Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government.
The curriculum will focus on sustainable, eco-friendly construction techniques and prefabrication methods. Students will also be shown solutions for retrofitting existing homes to make them more energy efficient.
Collaborations with Northumbria University, Gentoo, Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust and industry partners will provide routes for learners into further and higher education, apprenticeships and professional qualifications.
HICSA was built by Sunderland-based Brims Construction, whose director Jason Wood said: 鈥淲e are delighted to complete such a significant building for the City Council and Sunderland College, we hope that studying at HICSA can inspire the next generation of construction workers into our industry. A big thanks to all involved with the project, everyone can be very proud of what has been achieved.鈥�
The development is the latest project to complete at Riverside Sunderland, a 32-hectare former brownfield regeneration are spanning both the north and south banks of the River Wear in Sunderland city centre. Once complete, Riverside Sunderland will see new offices, parks and leisure developments as well as an eye hospital and 1,000 residential apartments.
Cllr Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for business, housing and regeneration at Sunderland City Council, said: 鈥淭he people of Sunderland have a rich history of making things and HICSA will further build on this proud heritage, providing our young people with the skills and knowledge required to make the sustainable, eco-friendly homes of tomorrow.
鈥淚t will also see hundreds of young people every year study in this transforming part of the city, increasing their dwell time in the city centre and their spend with local businesses. It is yet another exciting milestone in the development of Riverside Sunderland, which is fast becoming recognised as one of the UK鈥檚 most ambitious urban regeneration projects.鈥�
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