Birmingham Central Technical College
A School of Metallurgy formed in the
Birmingham and Midland Institute in
1875. The
Birmingham Municipal Technical School separated from the Institute in
1895, teaching chemistry, physics, metallurgy and electrical engineering.
In 1911, commercial classes were introduced and grew into an independent
School of Commerce by
1916. The technical school expanded, and by
1917 was also teaching botany and other subjects to
trainee teachers.
In 1927 the Technical School changed its name to the Central Technical College to reflect its changing approach to teaching technology.
In
1951, the Technical College was renamed the
College of Technology, Birmingham and work began on the Main Building at Gosta Green. In
1956, it became the
first elite designated College of Advanced Technology (CAT) and underwent a major expansion. It moved into buildings that were constructed between 1949 and 1955 to a design by Ashley & Newman. Princess Margaret laid one of the first foundation stones at the base of the new building in
1951.
The building is one of Europe's largest freestanding brick buildings. In
1955, the College of Advanced Technology was opened by Her Majesty The Queen. The college expanded again to a design by the
City Architect of Birmingham Alwyn Sheppard Fidler between 1957 and 1965.
Birmingham Municipal Technical School, Suffolk Street (f. 1895)
The College of Advanced Technology officially became the
University of Aston in Birmingham on receipt of its
Royal Charter on 22 April 1966 and the first Chancellor of the University,
Lord Nelson of Stafford, was installed on 10 May.
In the
1960s, changes were made to the higher education system creating an
expansion of polytechnics as a more vocationally orientated alternative to the typical university.