NRC to host farewell event as Trostan Avenue and Farm Lodge campuses prepare to close

Northern Regional College’s Trostan Avenue campus when it opened in Ballymena in the 1960s.

Image: Old Photos of Ballymena

Northern Regional College (NRC) is inviting the local community to mark the end of an era with a special farewell event as it prepares to close its Trostan Avenue and Farm Lodge campuses in Ballymena.

The event will take place on Thursday 29 May from 5.00pm to 6.00pm at the Trostan Avenue campus, offering former students, staff, and local residents the opportunity to take a final walk through the corridors, share memories, and celebrate the College’s long-standing presence in the town.

“This event marks the end of an era for the College, as we prepare to embark on a new chapter with the opening of our state-of-the-art Ballymena campus,” a spokesperson for NRC said.

The farewell event comes as the College counts down to the opening of its brand-new £51 million campus in September 2025, located just off St Patrick’s Link Road on an expanded site of the previous Farm Lodge campus.

The brand-new £51 million NRC campus set to open in September 2025, located just off St Patrick’s Link Road in Ballymena

Fully funded by the Department for the Economy, the new development will consolidate Northern Regional College’s Ballymena provision into a single, purpose-built facility, providing world-class education and training for approximately 1,800 learners annually.

Spanning 16,800m² over five storeys, the new building is designed to deliver panoramic views across the ECOS landscape towards Slemish and westwards to the new St Patrick’s regeneration site.

Innovative and Future-Focused Facilities

The brand-new £51 million NRC campus set to open in September 2025, located just off St Patrick’s Link Road in Ballymena

The state-of-the-art campus promises to be a beacon of innovation and skills development for the region. It will feature modern spaces designed to support vocational, technical, and professional programmes essential for a 21st-century workforce.

Key highlights include:

• An Innovation Zone for project-based learning, performances, and events

• A learning staircase at the heart of the campus, fostering group collaboration and flexible learning

• Public-facing facilities such as a training restaurant and hair and beauty salons

• A dedicated sports zone with cutting-edge equipment, gym, and a sports hall

At the forefront of the new campus is the Advanced Technologies Department, which will span 5,000m² across two floors, offering specialist training in key sectors including:

• Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical, and Electronic Engineering

• Motor Vehicle and Construction Engineering

• Electrical Installation, Plumbing, Carpentry, Joinery, and Bricklaying

The department aims to nurture innovation and excellence, with the capacity to evolve in response to developments in areas such as renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.

“The new facilities will allow for exciting further and future curriculum development in areas such as renewables, in close connection with local stakeholders,” the college spokesperson stated.

A Community Celebration and a New Beginning

Northern Regional College is encouraging everyone with a connection to Trostan Avenue or Farm Lodge to join them in celebrating the College’s legacy and looking ahead to its bright future.

“Come along to celebrate the past and look ahead to a new era for education in Ballymena,” the invitation reads.

More details about the farewell event are available on the official event page.