Strongman Mark Felix helps out at demolition of Blackburn College building (From This Is Lancashire)

Strongman Mark Felix helps out at demolition of Blackburn College building

12:30pm Thursday 19th July 2012 in News

THE final stages of Blackburn College’s plan to create a ‘world-class’ campus have got under way with a little help from one of the world’s strongest men.

Man mountain Mark Felix, from Darwen, who is a regular World’s Strongest Man competitor, lent a hand to kick start the demolition of the college’s Feilden Street campus, as the project enters its final phase.

The demolition is estimated to take around eight weeks and will make way for a future development zone to complete the campus.

Built in the 1960s, the seven-storey building housed the sixth form, science block and hair and beauty department.

More recently, it has been home to business support, electrical engineering, motorvehicle and learning resource centres, including the Hub and the library.

Phil Watson CBE, vice chair of governors at the college, said: “The Feilden Street building has given both the town and the college around 50 years of service and I’m sure holds lots of memories for those who worked and studied in it.

“Its demolition is one of the final parts of the College’s master plan to create a world-class campus. The removal of Feilden Street will create the opportunity to redevelop the sports hall and the motorvehicle service facility, as well as help enhance the campus feeling that has already being created by the Beacon Centre and the University Centre and strengthen the image of the town from the main ring road.”

Phase one of the new campus was completed in 2007 with the £8.8 million St Paul’s Centre, where the sixth form and computing departments are located.

In September 2009, phase two – the £14million University Centre – opened.

And in December last year, the £18.3 million Beacon Centre was completed.

Plans are also in place to create a specialist science, technology, engineering and maths building next year.