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Ron Dearing UTC to increase student numbers

Welcome to the first newsletter for the Ron Dearing UTC reconfiguration and Central Fire Station expansion. This project is being delivered in partnership with Hull Esteem Consortium LEP ltd.

Sewell Construction has been appointed to reconfigure the UTC’s existing building in Kingston Square, including two new science labs and a Sixth Form Independent Study Centre, which will enable the employer-led school to welcome a further 80 students from September.

A new hi-tech learning centre will also be created in the former Central Fire Station next to the school. This will be home to an exhibition centre, a Renewables Innovation Lab, a Sixth Form Centre and a state-of-the-art Centre for Creativity know as “STEAM Studios”, representing the school’s specialisms in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. The team and other partners are working to ensure the former Central Fire Station retains its original character and has the lowest possible carbon footprint.

Opening in June 2023, STEAM Studios will comprise of three art and design studios, a ceramics studio, a MAC computer suite, recording studio, film-making facilities, as well as exhibition and performance spaces. Once complete, this facility will enable an additional 120 students to attend Ron Dearing.

The overall expansion will enable an additional 200 students to study Level 3 qualifications in engineering, creative and digital, and provide local industry with 100 highly skilled and qualified potential employees.

We’ll be providing regular updates on site progress throughout the duration of the project, as well as insights into how students are playing a key role in shaping the expansion.

Take a look at our Building Information Modelling (BIM) walk-through to get a feel for what the expansion and reconfiguration will look like.

Progress so far

So far, the team have been working closely with the Ron Dearing UTC Student Design & Build team, consisting of ten students in years 10, 11 and 12. They've been appointed to work with staff, the UTC's employer partners, architects, sustainability consultants and the construction team to ensure the new facilities reflect the needs of students, local businesses, the green economy and the environment.

This has created a perfect opportunity for students to work alongside professionals to apply theory learned in lessons to a real project. As well as having input into the design element, students will be involved in developing the sustainability strategy and budget management.

The students have been shown images of how the building looked when it was operational as a fire station, site plans, architectural drawings, and artists' impressions to give them an initial overview of the size and scale of the project, as well as the challenges it presents.

Year 10 student Sandis Logins, 15, who is part of the Student Design & Build team, said: “It’s great to be involved and I love working as part of a team. I’d like to be an engineer in the future and this is a perfect opportunity to work on a real-life project at such an exciting time for Ron Dearing UTC.”

Year 11 student Sienna Williams, 16, added: “The tour was eye-opening and it was interesting to see the space. I think the new facilities will be really good and open up more opportunities for students.

“It’s really important for the building to be sustainable and we’ll look at various ways to reduce carbon emissions. It’s great to be part of the team.”

Student Design & Build team with partners
Members of the student Design & Build team
Members of the student Design & Build team
An artists' impression of the new STEAM Studios
Ron Dearing UTC from above

Over the next two weeks

Over the next couple of weeks we'll be busy establishing the site ready for main works to begin. Initial works will include:

• The installation of solid hoarding surrounding the perimeter of the site
• Asbestos removal
• Scaffold installation around the perimeter
• Internal lead removal
• Internal soft strip

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