Building firm BAM has been selected to redevelop the arts and design centre at Somerset College.

The £7 million project was procured as a two-stage traditional contract via the Construction Framework South West.

BAM will carry out extensive work on the existing 1970s Arts House on the college’s Taunton campus. Robin Snell and Partners are the architects.

The contractor will put a new roof and exterior glazing on the main four-storey arts building, as well as giving it new mechanical and electrical services.

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An existing four-storey building will be given major structural works to open the areas up for exhibition and circulation and to improve the natural light in the space.

A new single-storey gluam structural framed extension will complete the quadrangle of buildings and provide new reprographic and theatre performance space.

The buildings will remain in use throughout the one-year construction project, with BAM carefully managing a staged decant of students.

The project is targeting a 'Very Good' rating under environmental initiative BREEAM, and will include photovoltaic cells and a biomass boiler.

BAM will work with the college to provide training opportunities for existing students.

(CD/IT)