Sandwell College's framework is in place

Work on a new £77 million college in the Black Country is gathering pace, as this picture shows.

Captured just days before heavy snow hit West Bromwich, this twilight scene shows framework of the new Sandwell College.

Fifteen months after work started, the main shape of the building is firmly in place, while a distinctive wave-shaped roof is set to be added next month.

The futuristic-style building, depicted here in an artist's impression, will house thousands of students. It is being built on Ringway and will feature a distinctive glass front.

Workers are already installing roof covering on top of the east side of the building, which runs along Spon Lane, while steel frames for the roof will finish going up on the west wing, nearest the Metro line, after Christmas.

Project manager Mark Green said: "The focus now is getting the accommodation 'wings' roofed.

"We are currently on with the east wing, the west wing will start straight after Christmas, weather permitting."

Huge tower cranes were brought on to the site last month to haul parts of the distinctive roof shape into place.

Part of West Bromwich Ringway and the town's Spon Lane were cordoned off for almost two weeks to allow the work to take place. Work started on the multi-million pound building project in September 2009 and it is due to be finished in autumn 2011.

Once completed it will be home to 10,000 students and will include a theatre, sports hall, automotive and construction workshops, hair and nail bar and a café.

Progress is being recorded on a webcam, see www.sky cam.sandwell ac.uk/cgi bin/questim age.html