The building is the first phase of plan to establish a ‘learning quarter’ in the West Midlands town.

Work is due to start at the end of this month on the Dudley Evolve centre, which is located on the site of a former fire station close to the College’s existing Broadway campus.

Builders will retain the façade of the listed fire station building. A four-storey steel frame structure provides accommodation for a Sport England rated sports hall, fitness suite and public performance auditorium.

Targeting a BREEAM excellent performance rating, the new building will incorporate a biomass boiler, rainwater harvesting and re-use and brise soleil.

In the second phase, planned to start in 2015, a 100,000 sq Construction and Engineering Technologies Centre will be built, replacing existing buildings at the rear of the college’s Broadway campus.