Stephen George + Partners completes flagship Nexus Learning Centre

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) is celebrating the completion of the £8million state-of-the-art Nexus Learning Centre in South Shields, a pivotal regeneration project which promises to bring skills and new employment into the region.

Commissioned by Passenger Transport Executive Nexus, SGP developed a 33,500 sq ft single building option to accommodate a training centre and light maintenance facility, meeting the client’s budget whilst maintaining the facilities’ operational requirements.

“The Nexus Learning Centre is a flagship project for SGP as well as Nexus.”, explains Alistair Branch, Partner at SGP. “It is the first of several major infrastructure wins to come to fruition. Our designs for Halifax Bus station and Halifax Railway station, along with a new Bus Station in Stevenage, are due to start on site in 2021, whilst the £43million Broadmarsh Bus Station and Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP) is due to complete early next year.”

The Nexus Learning Centre will provide training facilities for the 1,000+ people working for Nexus, including contractors involved in the £350m modernisation of the urban rail system used by 40 million passengers a year. The Centre will contain classrooms, meeting rooms, offices, staff room, canteen and changing facilities, an enclosed light maintenance area including train inspection pits, a platform and mock station.

Concludes Alistair: “Working with contractor Galliford Try Infrastructure, the Learning Centre has been built almost exactly as we designed it. This new facility will consolidate Nexus’ training needs under one roof, providing courses for all staff, from apprentices to senior management, creating a workforce fully equipped for the demands of public transport in the 21^st century.”