Wind set to power city's £60m college into eco-friendly future

The first large-scale building-mounted wind turbines in Sheffield have been installed on the roof of the new college building as part of a series of environmentally-friendly measures.

The three new wind turbines are the most visible of a host of sustainable features at the college, which also includes solar panels, a rainwater recycling system, green sedum (plant) roofs, a "balancing pond" to collect water to be reused and environmentally-friendly lighting.

Power generated by both the solar panels and the new wind turbines – which are 15 metres tall and stand 48 metres above ground level – is fed back into an energy distribution system for the college's tower block. A display monitor within the building also informs staff and students of the amount of energy being created.

Julie Byrne, executive director of Sheffield City College, said: "To have Sheffield's first major building-mounted wind turbines in operation on the college is a great achievement and demonstrates our commitment to the future of our students, our facility and our city.

"Sustainability has been a key element of the design process of this exceptional building and will reduce the running costs, educate learners and staff in energy use and conservation and promote the college as a forward-thinking organisation."

Tom Charles, construction manager for JF Finnegan, which installed the turbines, added: "The entire construction of Sheffield City College has been a complex and exciting process due to the logistics of working around staff and students.

"To install three 15 metre-high turbines onto an eight-storey building was a major undertaking and these, along with the striking design and sheer scale of the project, will undoubtedly ensure that the building achieves its goal as a highly visible, iconic building in the north of England."

Work on the revamp of Sheffield City College, in Granville Road, began in 2005 when a project team was set up comprising architects Jefferson Sheard, builders JF Finnegan, engineers Eastwood and Partners, surveyors VB Johnson and AECOM – the company which built Sheffield's incinerator in Bernard Road.

Building work then began on the site in August 2007, starting with the nursery.

Stage two of the work involved building a three-storey catering block. JF Finnegan recently handed over the third phase of the project, which incorporated the main atrium building and seven-storey tower.

The final phase of work is now well under way.

It will involve the construction of a brand-new sports hall and outdoor sports pitches as well as a "comprehensive" landscaping programme.

As each phase has been completed, students at the college have vacated existing buildings and moved into the new facilities to allow the old buildings to be demolished.

Les Sturch, director of development services at Sheffield Council, said: "The redevelopment of the college demonstrates a comprehensive and integrated approach to sustainable design and carbon reduction.

"This is a fantastic achievement and shows the way forward in making Sheffield a sustainable city."

Tom Rhys Jones, managing director of Jefferson Sheard Architects, said that the firm was "delighted by the acknowledgement that the building has received as it emerges on the Sheffield skyline."