NUGENT are thrilled to be the MEP contractor for the new Northern Regional College Ballymena project

Northern Regional Ballymena

NUGENT are thrilled to be appointed MEP contractor for the new NRC Ballymena project. Our team are currently working on the sister Coleraine campus alongside Main Contractors Heron Bros.

The college is part of the Department for the Economy £85million investment between both the NRC Ballymena and Coleraine campuses. Northern Regional College are embarking on a £45million investment for their Ballymena campus. The new build school with enhance better learning experiences for both students and staff.

Images courtesy of McAdam Design.

Main contractors of both NRC campuses is well established and ambitious contractors Heron Bros. Construction for the site begun in April 2022 for the Ballymena campus. The current Ballymena NRC site is split onto numerous areas and the new campus will be built on the existing Farm Lodge site with the closure of Trostan Avenue and Lamont Building. The existing farm lodge site spans across 17,600m2 in Ballymena.

The main building will be state of the art providing much needed facilities for the students. The school will include cross curriculum project based learning, conference and performances room The training restaurant and hair / beauty salons will be at set times open for the public for students to train in a live environment. The new campus will have a standalone sports hall which can be hired for external community activities.

Professor Terri Scott, Principal and Chief Executive of Northern Regional College, said: “Our new Ballymena campus will result in a world-class learning environment, enabling the delivery of training, skills and transformational education not only for our students, but for the wider local community”. (nrc.ac.uk, 2020)

Main Contractors Heron Bros will be constructing the new build school through a phased construction approach. NUGENT will be providing MEP works for the school development including but not limited too;

The Mechanical services entail:

• LTHW Heating comprising gas fired boilers, radiators and radiant panels
• Hot and cold Domestic Water Services including CAT 5 install and gas fired water heaters
• Natural Gas
• Above ground Drainage including science lab waste
• Ventilation comprising Packaged AHUs, classroom MVHRs and Kitchen Extract Fans
• Air Conditioning
• Automatic Controls & BMS
• Fume Cupboard extraction
• LEV Systems for specialist wood dust, welding and vehicle exhaust systems
• Compressed Air
• Specialist Gas
• Sanitaryware
• Insulation to services
• External Services

Our Electrical services include;

• Main switchgear and intelligent metering
• Power and lighting
• Generator installation
• Photovoltaics
• Audio visual and performing arts lighting
• UPS and structured cabling
• Digital signage
• Integrates security systems
• External power and lighting

Pre Construction Manager, Matt Potter said, “The NUGENT Team are delighted to be the MEP Contractor for the impressive NRC Ballymena alongside Heron Bros. We are currently working together on the NRC Coleraine campus which is progressing rapidly. NRC Ballymena will be a fantastic edition to the local community of Ballymena. Our MEP team have been busy in the background and recently broke ground on site. Exciting times ahead”.

Works are expected to be finished for the new school year opening for the academic year 2024/2025.

The College have monthly drone footage of the new campus, check it out: