In May 2024, we celebrated a key milestone in the construction work currently taking place at Rushford Court in Durham City Centre, with the ceremonial tightening of a ‘golden bolt’.
Rushford Court will become the temporary home of the university’s College of St Hild and St Bede from September 2024, while the proposed redevelopment of the University’s Leazes Road site takes place. In the longer-term, it is the university’s hope to establish a new, 18th college at Rushford Court.
Jeremy Cook OBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Colleges and Student Experience) with Simon Forrest, Principal of the College of St Hild and St Bede, celebrating the golden bolt ceremony.
Work is progressing well
The works now underway include a new two-storey Heart building, which will be home to a Cafe-Bar, common room, social space, reception, and study space. Alongside this, works on the Harding Building will see college staff offices and welfare and study spaces created, as well as the reinstatement of the historic building entrance. Finally, the current reception building is to be transformed into a gym and yoga suite.
Aerial view showing Rushford Court's city centre location and building work progress
The 'Golden Bolt'
The ‘golden bolt’ symbolises the commencement of the steel frame construction for the new Heart building, and was celebrated by colleagues from the University, owners of the site Unite Students and build contractor Brims Construction Limited.
Colleagues from Durham University, Unite Students and Brims Construction Limited gathered to celebrate the golden bolt ceremony
The golden bolt was tightened by Jeremy Cook OBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Colleges and Student Experience).
See more from the golden bolt ceremony in this short video.
All images and video supplied by Unite Students.
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