Midas Construction and Truro and Penwith College have reached a major milestone in a project to build a new specialist technology facility at the Ofsted outstanding-rated college.

The topping out ceremony, a celebration of the highest point of construction, saw the ceremonial fixing of the final roofing sheets to the steel frame at the £7 million project at the college’s main Truro campus.

The new Valency Building will be part of the South West Institute of Technology (SWIOT), with more than 1,200sq m of space over two floors playing host to facilities matching the best in the UK for training students from across the region in technical subjects.s

Midas Construction, part of the Midas Group, marked the topping out with staff and partners from Truro & Penwith College, taking a scissor lift to reach the roof of the new building.

Mike Borkowski, business development director at Midas Construction, said: “There is a fantastic partnership behind the SWIOT and the development of this impressive new facility and as a Cornwall-based business we are very proud to be involved in such a strategically important skills project.

“Given the challenges of recent months, it is particularly pleasing to have marked such a significant stage in the construction of the Valency Building. We very much look forward to the next phase of the project and to the delivery by Midas of yet another high-profile scheme creating modern, innovative teaching spaces for Cornwall.”

Martin Tucker, principal of Truro and Penwith College, added: “Everyone at Truro and Penwith College is extremely proud to have reached this milestone in the development of what will become an iconic feature in the delivery of next-level skills and education for Cornwall and the South West.

“The partnership with Midas has been a very successful one and we cannot wait to start welcoming the first students into the Valency building as soon as construction is complete in the new year.”