Speller Metcalfe is to deliver major upgrades to two public buildings in Wolverhampton.
The contractor, which has offices in the West Midlands city, was named as preferred bidder for works on its Central Library and adult education facilities.
The deal forms part of a £61m investment in Wolverhampton’s Learning Quarter as the council looks to create a “vibrant” learning hub to boost residents’ prospects.
Speller Metcalfe was awarded a preconstruction contract and asked to carry out detailed design and enabling works ahead of the project getting underway in earnest this autumn.
Plans for the Central Library include restoration of the Grade II* listed building facade on Snow Hill alongside a new roof and rear-entrance lobby, internal remodelling and landscaping.
Meanwhile, a two-storey glazed link building will connect the library’s 1930s extension to Adult Education Wolverhampton’s Alan Garner Centre on Old Hall Street, which will itself undergo internal remodelling.
The improved facilities will sit alongside a new education facility for the City of Wolverhampton College being built by McLaughlin & Harvey.
Works on Central Library and Adult Education Wolverhampton are expected to take a year, during which the buildings will continue to operate.
Councillor Chris Burden said the scheme represented “an important part of our City Learning Quarter vision to co-locate new state-of-the-art facilities in the city centre and improve life chances for people of all ages”.
He added: “We want to deliver a vibrant education hub where we improve the city’s learning, apprenticeship and employment offers and retain our best talent, rather than losing people to different parts of the region.
“The new facilities will also provide a vital facelift to our city centre and restore one of our much-loved heritage buildings, as well as offering excellent connectivity to rail, bus, tram and cycle routes.”
Speller Metcalfe is already working on the first phase of the City Learning Quarter masterplan, with an £8m Advanced Technology and Automotive Centre at City of Wolverhampton College’s Wellington Road campus in Bilston underway.
Speller Metcalfe director Matthew Bailey said the contractor was “delighted” to be working on the latest phase.
“Restoring heritage and listed buildings is the bread and butter of our team and we’re pleased to have been appointed for this scheme,” he said.
