Bournemouth and Poole College has officially taken ownership of its new £37 million Compass Building, marking the completion of a two-year construction project at the Lansdowne campus in Bournemouth. The facility is set to welcome thousands of students in September 2026, offering updated learning spaces for vocational and degree courses.
The four-storey building was funded through the Department for Education as part of the government’s national investment in further education. Construction was carried out by Kier Construction Southern, with Noviun Architects leading the design. As part of the site redevelopment, the project also included the restoration of the 1910s Clock Tower Building, which is a protected heritage landmark in the area.
The new 8,500 square metre facility provides dedicated areas for subjects including media, computing, sport, travel, hair, beauty, and hospitality. Students will gain practical experience in new public-facing amenities, such as the Escoffier restaurant and the Horizon salons, which will be open for the local community to use. The design of the building prioritises sustainability, incorporating air source heat pump technology and rooftop solar panels to ensure it remains net zero carbon during daily operations.
As the largest provider of further education and apprenticeships in Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole College supports approximately 12,000 students. The opening of the Compass Building represents the first phase of the college’s ongoing plan to upgrade facilities at its Lansdowne campus.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
