City of Westminster College Topping Out Ceremony

Date: 11 December 2009

Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs Kevin Brennan MP this week performed the official topping out ceremony at City of Westminster College’s new Paddington Green Campus.

The topping out ceremony, marking completion of the structural phase of building work at City of Westminster College, took place this week on the College's rooftop.  

This stage is seen by many at the college as an exciting moment in the development of the new Paddington Green Centre. 

The topping out stage is undoubtedly an important milestone in McLaren's construction programme as it signals the concrete frame has been completed to its highest point, ready for the installation of the lightweight and energy efficient roof over the central atrium later this month.

In addition to Kevin Brennan MP those in attendance included Karen Buck MP, Lars Christiansen, Counsellor from the Royal Danish Embassy, key representatives of the College and stakeholders.

Set in the heart of Westminster, the new Campus will offer an outstanding teaching and learning environment within a 24,000m² building that will be a flagship for Further Education in London and the Region.

At £102 million, this ambitious scheme is the highest value single site redevelopment that the Learning and Skills Council has agreed to date and their 86% grant is one of the largest financial contributions.

Kevin Brennan MP said: "I'm really pleased to be here today at the topping out ceremony to celebrate the Government's investment in City of Westminster College's new £102m Paddington Green Campus.

"New College facilities improve the lives of learners, regenerate communities and inspire local people to learn and develop. This new world-class Campus will equip Londoners with the skills they need to get work and get on at work."

City of Westminster College Chair of Governors Jude Boardman said: "With today's topping out ceremony we celebrated an exciting moment in the development of the new Paddington Green Centre. With the structure completed, we can all visualise just how inspiring our new Campus will be and look forward to completion of this state-of-the-art building in time to open in January 2011.

"I would like to thank the project teams from our contractors and City of Westminster College for their hard work and dedication in realising this ambitious project that will be a huge asset to our students, our local area and to London as a whole."

McLaren Chairman Kevin Taylor said: "We are delighted to have reached this important stage in construction and look forward to the successful completion of this world-class College which will act as the benchmark for future schemes across the UK."