GMI Construction Group Ltd has won a £27 million contract to expand Leeds City College's new Mabgate campus.

The campus is already home to the college’s School of Events, Enterprise and Employability, as well as studio space for Leeds Conservatoire, which are both members of Luminate Education Group.

The project will transform the once derelict site into around 70,000 sq ft of educational space which will enhance the teaching and learning experience.

The development will create new learning spaces while contributing to the regeneration of the area and providing much-need community resources.

The initial stage of the project, which started last month, includes the partial demolition of existing buildings fronting onto Mabgate, which will make way for the construction of a new five-storey campus for University Centre Leeds and a new building for Leeds City College's English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) provision, currently the Enfield Centre, which will both operate as educational facilities.


As part of the construction of the ESOL building, Leeds-based GMI will also build a new atrium cafeteria, which will be located between the new building and the existing converted warehouse space, which is the hub of the Mabgate Centre, providing eco-friendly open-plan learning spaces and specially designed classrooms.

In addition to the construction of the new facilities, GMI will also undertake the refurbishment of the historic building, Studio 24, which is a popular arts and events space located within a former industrial building.

Chris Weathers, Group Commercial Director at GMI Construction, said: "We are exceptionally proud to have secured this project to support the expansion of this Leeds City College centre and the regeneration of this part of our home city.

"It also represents part of our strategy to further grow our presence in public sector construction.

"We have a strong track record of public sector delivery, not only in Yorkshire, but our other regions including the North East, and securing this scheme further demonstrates our capabilities to support significant developments that will have a positive impact on communities."