Wates unveils its last legacy at Birchwood College

7 February, 2011

With construction complete and students settled, Wates Construction conducted its final sign-off at Birchwood Community High School this week, in a ceremony to officially open the Year 12 common room, renamed the ‘Wates Room’.

Andrew Wates, former Chairman of Wates Family Holdings and 3rd generation family board member of the Wates Group, joined Head of Birchwood Community High School, Anne Bright, John Shannon, Business Unit Director at Wates Construction and all the Year 12 students to unveil a special plaque commemorating Wates’ role in the building’s creation.

Students, staff and learners at Birchwood School and College chose to rename the Year 12 common room the ‘Wates Room’ as a tribute to the efforts that were made by Wates to go beyond building and invest in the future of the Birchwood community. Wates was appointed in August 2009 to build a brand new further education college and an arts and performance facility at the school on Brock Road in Warrington.

Construction of both facilities commenced in September 2009 and completed in September 2010. John Shannon, Business Unit Director of Wates Construction, said: “It is a real pleasure to see our work at Birchwood School commemorated in this way. This is a true celebration of the lasting legacy we hope to have left through our role in the creation of this fantastic College and Performing Arts facility and the strong partnership we have developed with the staff and learners.”

Categories: new build, refurbishment, secondary schools, CR, people, events, north west

Tags: Andrew Wates, Birchwood, Secondary school, Warrington