More than 100 miles of British Gypsum Gypframe metal studs and channels, and enough Gyproc DuraLine plasterboard to cover almost 15 football pitches, have been used to create internal walls for York’s new £60 million College, the biggest of its kind in the UK.

Part of a £2.1 million ceiling, partition and lining package, British Gypsum GypWall ROBUST partitions are providing BS 5234 Severe Duty linings throughout the 4-storey building, designed to accommodate 13,000 students in a modern, state-of-the-art learning environment.

For additional acoustic privacy, contractors Bailey Johnson installed special 146mm wide Gypframe Acoustuds and a double layer Gyproc DuraLine lining around College music rooms, and British Gypsum CasoLine MF ceilings lined with a double layer of 15mm Gyproc SoundBloc to the lecture theatre, performance spaces and noisy plant rooms.

Rounding off the high performance specification, all study and open areas, corridors, resource areas and the building’s stunning 4-storey Atrium, are lined with Gyptone perforated gypsum acoustic ceiling tiles, which provide high levels of acoustic absorption to ensure a quiet and relaxed internal environment appropriate for this new world-class centre of learning.

The new 30,000 sq metre York College will provide a massive boost to further and higher education in the City and throughout North Yorkshire. It will have a separate nursery, car parking and playing fields, and will offer courses from pre-vocational through to degree level, as well as specialist courses such as hospitality and catering, stonemasonry and even football coaching in its Football Development Centre.

The British Gypsum products have helped to ensure that the new college has met all expectations. “We are delighted with our new building, which has been completed on time, and to budget”, said College Principal, Mike Galloway, “and we look forward to welcoming our first students in September.”

Email: paul.smith@bpb.com