Some journeys are worth remembering

O ur founding institutions of
Central College Glasgow,
Glasgow Metropolitan College and
Glasgow College of Nautical Studies
served the needs of Glasgow and
beyond for over 40 proud years.

As we move forward as City of

Glasgow College, we take a trip
down memory lane and reflect
on the memorable legacy each
institution leaves in the city.
 O riginally known
1950’s/60’s
as Stow College of
Hairdressing, the college
was founded by the Glasgow
Corporation in 1956.

Initially situated on John

St, the college moved to its
present site on Cathedral
Street in 1963 and was
renamed Central College of
Commerce and Distribution
to serve the needs of the local
community and industry.
A t the start of the 1960’s the Glasgow
Corporation also commissioned a new home
for the College of Building at North Hanover
Street. The college had a presence on the site since
1927 but with the teaching of trades and skills
becoming more important, city bosses wasted no
time in rubber-stamping the project.
The new building was one of the first commercial
high rise structures in Glasgow and took four years
to build. It was officially opened in 1964 by Harold
Wilson, who later went on to become UK Prime
Minister, and housed individually the College of
Building and the College of Printing.
O n the Clyde, construction of Glasgow
College of Nautical Studies got underway
during 1967, and was formally opened by
Admiral of the Fleet, the Earl of Mountbatten
on 4th October 1969.
The purpose of the college was to concentrate
on the education and training of Merchant
Navy personnel in Strathclyde on one site.
Marine disciplines offered by various Colleges
within the Strathclyde region successfully
came together and cadets who previously
attended the School of Navigation at the Royal
College of Science and Technology (now part
of the University of Strathclyde), the Marine
Engineering Department of Stow College and
the Communications Department of the Watt
Memorial College in Greenock, soon became the
first occupants of the new college.
1970’s

A fter eight years, the College of Building

and the College of Printing joined in
1972 to form the Glasgow College of Building
and Printing. When they finally tied the knot,
the new college had 13 floors specialising in
areas including design, furniture and creative
crafts; building, printing and photography.
Many courses were exclusive to the college
and students enjoyed impressive on-site
facilities. The college also led the way in
printing and publishing, coping with rapid
advances in technology to become Scotland’s
only dedicated print training centre.
T hroughout the 1970’s, Glasgow
College of Nautical Studies diversified
beyond its initial marine specialism and
C entral College of Commerce and
Distribution condensed its title to
Central College of Commerce in 1972
enjoyed extensive expansion. while remaining committed to building
and developing an extensive portfolio
A General Studies department was of courses including business studies,
added in 1972, the Power Plant Practice information technology, hair and beauty,
Department of Springburn College of legal studies and accountancy.
Engineering was transferred in 1973,
and construction of a Halls of Residence
followed in 1974.
1970’s

T he Glasgow College of Food Technology

opened its doors in 1973. As the last
of the city centre colleges to be built by
The college enjoyed a boom period as
Scotland’s tourism industry began to take off.
Restaurants from the Merchant City to the
the Corporation of Glasgow, it filled a West End began to spring up requiring highly
void for training in the catering and food trained chefs. The college marked itself as a
manufacturing industries. centre of excellence for the extensive training
required in the food industry; however the
The Food Trades department of Langside
portfolio also grew to include other popular
College formed the core of the new college
courses including hospitality, business,
and some of the first courses it offered were
tourism, events and sports.
hotel management, catering, food science,
baking, English and general studies.
11
 I nspired by the big,
1980’s
bold and bright trends
of the eighties, hair and
beauty students at Central
College of Commerce got
busy recreating the looks
of icons Debbie Harry and
Cindy Lauper. Teased,
permed and mullet hair
do’s were complemented
by pastel eye make up and
heavy eyeliner! A decade
sure to be remembered!
T
he close of the decade saw Central College of Commerce adopt the former
Allan Glen’s Secondary School as a campus. The school, set up in memory of
Glasgow businessman Allan Glen, had been a selective fee-paying independent
school for boys, but became a comprehensive school in 1973, known as Allan
Glen’s Secondary. However falling birth rates, population migration and
declining school rolls throughout the city saw it close in 1989. On taking over

I
the site on Cathedral St, Central College of Commerce maintained the historical
n February 1985, the
link and to this day the site is referred to as the Allan Glen’s campus. Secretary of State for Scotland
announced his decision to
centralise the provision of
nautical education in Scotland
at Glasgow College of Nautical
Studies. The department of
Navigation obtained a real–
time, full mission simulator and
developed into a comprehensive
maritime studies provider,
embracing ship and fleet
management, port operations
and maritime law.
1990’s

I t was initially difficult to convince potential

students that a nautical college was really
offering courses in management, sport, drama,
beauty therapy, child care, computing and
more. However the courses flourished and the
college experienced a dramatic gender shift
from the original all male student, 95% male
staff and just one female toilet!
In 1995 a new extension to the Faculty of
Engineering was built and in 1998 Brian
Wilson, Minister for Education and Industry
officially opened the Adelphi Centre – a brand
new building housing the faculty of Care and
Social Science, as well as providing flexible
learning space for the local community.
The College also laid the foundations for international
partnerships during 1992, forging strong relations
with the Academy of Maritime Education and
Training (AMET) based in Chennai, India.
 I n 1994 the main campus
1990’s
of Central College of
Commerce was renamed
in memory of Charles
Oakley, a writer and trade
unionist who chaired the
college’s board.
T
he photography department at Glasgow College of Building and Printing changed forever

with the invention of the digital camera at the end of the 1990’s. However the college

remained strong and embraced new technology introducing new facilities including ICT suites,

a broadcast standard TV studio and campus radio station.

 C entral College of Commerce
2000’s
expanded with the opening of
the Central Business Learning Zone
in 2000. Eight years later the college
identity was revamped and launched
as Central College, Glasgow.
“The buildings are prominent
landmarks on the city centre
skyline and their significance can
be justifiably considered alongside a
limited international cast, including
Gio Ponti’s Pirelli Tower in Milan.”
Historic Scotland

O n 4th October 2004, 35 years

of nautical education was
celebrated with the opening of the
brand new £1.8million ‘Gateway’
building at Glasgow College of
Nautical Studies. The new facility
aimed to train extra recruits for
the British Merchant Navy while
providing greater access to students
with disabilities.
I n 2002, the towering College of Building
and Printing and nearby Central College of
Commerce were awarded B-listed status by
Historic Scotland, protecting them from future
development.
Both buildings were designed by Glasgow
firm Wylie, Shanks and Partners. Built in the
early sixties, both exhibit unusual roofscapes
in which homage is paid to the forms used
by Le Corbusier in his design for the Unitè
d’Habitation at Marseille (1947 - 52).
The bulbous, porthole-pierced mass seated
atop of each building were originally used as
gymnasiums with the curvaceous, curious form
of the structure contrasting sharply with the
glass and travertine-faced structure below.
 W hen Glasgow Metropolitan
2000’s
College began life in 2005 it
immediately became the largest
college in Glasgow, housing over
15,000 students and 500 staff
across 5 campuses.

‘The Met’ as it affectionately

became known, brought together
the Glasgow College of Building
and Printing and the Glasgow
College of Food Technology – two
of Scotland’s most successful
further education providers.
These city centre neighbours had
not only carved out reputations
in the specialisms their names
implied but diversified to
offer a broad curriculum from
construction, design and media to
food, hospitality, sport, tourism
and many more.
E ach college has welcomed students, both young
and old, from all backgrounds and cultures.

We have nurtured talent, inspired confidence and

helped with that most special attribute – an education
that paves the road to success.
 “The merger and formation of this college has been a long time coming,
2010
and there have been many ups and downs, and many different views
expressed. However, today’s launch marks a historic milestone for City of
Glasgow College, the youngest and largest college in Scotland. We are here
together to celebrate the unveiling of our new identity, and to share our
exciting new vision for the college.”
Principal Paul Little
The launch of City of Glasgow College was celebrated by staff and
stakeholders at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel on 15th November 2010.
Thank You
T he success of our institutions would not have been
possible without the continued efforts of both our
current and former Staff, Students, Principals, Boards
of Management and Stakeholders - we thank you all!

In coming together as City of Glasgow College, we

have formed a single institution which will enhance the
learning environment of the city creating more choice
and opportunities. We will be a dynamic, thriving and

ALTOGETHER
powerful college committed to excellence.

BETTER.
On reflection of our proud histories, we now look
forward to creating a new set of memories as City of
Glasgow College.
Printed & Supported by

www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk

Glasgow Metropolitan College known as City of Glasgow College Scottish Charity Number SC036198