Hopwood Hall College Secures £4.8M to Transform Historic Chapel into Cutting-Edge Skills Hub
Middleton, Greater Manchester – Hopwood Hall College is set to embark on a significant transformation of a Grade II-listed chapel at its Middleton Campus, thanks to a substantial £4.8 million funding boost. The historic building, famously a prototype for the iconic Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, will be reimagined as a state-of-the-art innovative skills hub.
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The funding allows the college to push forward with the next stage of the ambitious project, breathing new life into the landmark structure. Once complete, the deconsecrated chapel will house cutting-edge facilities, including modern IT labs equipped with advanced technology such as virtual reality (VR) headsets.
According to the college, this development is crucial for maintaining its position as an industry leader in providing "skills-based training that drives growth for the borough and beyond." The new hub is designed to ensure students are equipped with the competencies demanded by the evolving job market.
The transformation plans are committed to preserving the chapel's unique architectural heritage. Famous original features such as the raised altar platform and the historic roof will be maintained, and the interior design will carefully uphold the geometry of the building's original layout, seamlessly blending heritage with modernity.
Originally designed as a place of worship, the chapel was deconsecrated in the 1990s. Its historical significance is underscored by its connection to the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, which was designed by renowned architect Frederick Gibberd and completed in 1967. Earlier this month, the Cathedral itself made headlines when it was announced it would be upgraded to a Grade I-listed building, highlighting the architectural lineage of the Middleton chapel.
This substantial investment will enable Hopwood Hall College to deliver a unique learning environment, combining a rich historical setting with future-focused technological training.
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The funding allows the college to push forward with the next stage of the ambitious project, breathing new life into the landmark structure. Once complete, the deconsecrated chapel will house cutting-edge facilities, including modern IT labs equipped with advanced technology such as virtual reality (VR) headsets.
According to the college, this development is crucial for maintaining its position as an industry leader in providing "skills-based training that drives growth for the borough and beyond." The new hub is designed to ensure students are equipped with the competencies demanded by the evolving job market.
The transformation plans are committed to preserving the chapel's unique architectural heritage. Famous original features such as the raised altar platform and the historic roof will be maintained, and the interior design will carefully uphold the geometry of the building's original layout, seamlessly blending heritage with modernity.
Originally designed as a place of worship, the chapel was deconsecrated in the 1990s. Its historical significance is underscored by its connection to the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, which was designed by renowned architect Frederick Gibberd and completed in 1967. Earlier this month, the Cathedral itself made headlines when it was announced it would be upgraded to a Grade I-listed building, highlighting the architectural lineage of the Middleton chapel.
This substantial investment will enable Hopwood Hall College to deliver a unique learning environment, combining a rich historical setting with future-focused technological training.
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