Wakefield Pupils Steel Themselves For Trinity Walk Legacy
Pupils from St Austin’s Catholic Primary School in Wakefield made their mark on the new Trinity Walk shopping centre today (14 July 2010) as they signed their names on the steel framework that is being erected on the city centre site.
Main contractor Shepherd Construction is using a total of approximately 6,500 tonnes of steel – the equivalent in weight to around 1,600 elephants – to create frame for the new shopping centre. Shepherd Construction is joint development partner for Trinity Walk with Sovereign Land and AREA Property Partners.
St Austin’s pupils got a sneak peak at the rapidly-emerging development and earned their place in history by signing their names to one of the steel girders that are being be used to build the new Sainsbury’s, one of the 550,000 sq ft centre’s anchor stores.
David Willis, headteacher for St Austin’s said: “This has been a lovely way for the children to be involved in the development of the site, a memory that they will carry with them and a tale to tell to future generations.”
The steelwork construction at Trinity Walk is set to complete in a matter of weeks. A number of the units will then be handed over to retailers so the fit out programme can start.
The whole shopping centre is due to complete in spring 2011, providing more than 50 large modern retail units across a 28-acre site. As well as Sainsbury and Debenhams, a host of other major retailers that have already signed up include New Look, River Island and Next making the centre a fashion hub for the city.
Chris Geaves, Director at Sovereign Land, said: “Trinity Walk is a key element in delivering a successful future for the city of Wakefield; a future which the school children that visited the site today will grow up with. It was exciting to have them on site today and we look forward to welcoming them - and their families - back as shoppers when the centre opens next year.”
Nigel Moore’s Shepherd Construction’s project leader commented: “It was great to see the enthusiasm the youngsters showed in learning more about the construction process involved in building such a major development. Once Sainsbury’s opens they can walk into the store knowing that their names have been indelibly left in the building.”