Bury College’s recent transformation projects – Creating a more environmentally friendly campus

We are excited to share some details about various transformative projects that have recently been completed, and some of which are in the works, to help create a greener, more environmentally friendly Bury College campus. These projects are part of our ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and fostering a more sustainable future for students and staff.

Project 1 – Beacon Building:

We have created a state-of-the-art Hair & Beauty teaching facility within our Beacon Building. Spanning three floors, this refurbishment incorporated a range of sustainable features, all of which were designed to enhance the learning environment while significantly reducing our carbon footprint.

Brise Soleil was installed on the external façade to minimise heat gains and enhance our energy efficiency, Hybrid Natural Ventilation is being used to ensure optimal air quality in key areas and energy-efficient LED lighting, controlled by intelligent systems, is implemented throughout the building. A new building management system, with new mechanical controls, was integrated to ensure energy-efficient operation and monitoring of all systems.

Project 2 – Woodbury Building:

Our Woodbury Building is also undergoing a transformation. We have created a new catering facility, as well as a social space and associated external garden. We are also working on a new entrance and enhancements to existing windows. The new windows will be designed to both reduce the need for artificial lighting and minimise heat loss / gain, cutting our energy use and enhancing indoor comfort.

Project 3 – Health & Digital Building:

Our new Health and Digital building was designed to BREEAM Excellent standards, further reflecting our commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility. Excellent energy performance was achieved by taking a fabric first approach, i.e. maximising the performance of the building fabric itself. Other sustainable features were also incorporated including low U/G-value glazing, Brise Soleil, high-efficiency VRF systems, air source heat pumps and energy-efficient LED lighting.

Engaging in Sustainability During Green Week

Multiple other green initiatives have been taking place on campus recently, such as gardening, tree planting, litter picking, bike maintenance and more, all in honour of Green Week (17^th – 23^rd March 2025).

These projects and activities on campus are a fantastic way to engage both our students and our staff in more environmentally conscious practices. Aiding us in our strive towards being a more sustainable college.