Project Handover: NRC Ballymena

NUGENT were appointed MEP contractor for the new £51 million NRC Ballymena project. Our team previously provided the MEP works 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 embarked on a £51million investment for their Ballymena campus. The new build school will enhance better learning experiences for both students and staff. The new 17,600m² campus brings state-of-the-art facilities including:

✅ Project-based learning spaces
✅ Conference & performance rooms
✅ Training restaurant & salons open to the public
✅ Standalone sports hall for students & community use

Main contractors of both NRC campuses is well established and ambitious contractors Heron Bros. The previous Ballymena NRC site was 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 is state of the art providing much needed facilities for the students. The college includes 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 consists of 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, 2020).

Main Contractors Heron Bros constructed the new build school through a phased construction approach.

NUGENT provided the MEP works for the school development which included but is 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

The new college opened to students for the new 2025/26 academic year.