In a month, keys for Darlington's eye-catching new university building will be handed over to Teesside University. Reporter Paul Cook and photographer Andy Lamb were among the first to be shown inside.

IT was less than four years ago that plans emerged for Darlington to become part of the university fraternity.

The dream was to build a satellite campus for Teesside University alongside the £35m new Darlington College site, forming another key piece of the Central Park development.

Formal approval for the £13m project came in October 2009 with an expected opening this September.

The distinctive frame of the building soon shot up, dominating the eastern fringe of the town centre.

Now, after 57 weeks of work, the builders are on schedule to hand over the keys in a month, ready for the start of the next academic year.

Outside, the facade boasts a multitude of materials in keeping with the college buildings around it.

Situated on the former railway sidings alongside the East Coast Main Line, the huge windows deaden the sound of trains thundering past.

And akin to the prow of a ship, stands the most eyecatching aspect which will include a lit staircase.

Like a proud parent, project manager Steve Parks, from contractors Morgan Sindall, said: “It has been the most critical and difficult part of the building.

“We normally make brickwork plumb, but the difference between bottom and top is 2.5 metres and each brick has to be tied back individually.

You can imagine the challenge we have had.”

Inside, each floor has been given its own individual colours. Starting from the bottom floor in purple, the colours become lighter as they go up to greens and yellows.

The campus is built around a central core. Surrounding it, on the ground floor is a reception area, canteen and library.

On the next three floors, an array of teaching rooms complete with projector technology, whiteboards and acoustics are sited. On the top floor are the pieces de resistance – a viewing balcony for entertaining complete with a saillike roof and the boardroom.

They offer stunning views across the rooftops of Darlington as far as Swaledale and Weardale in one direction, and the Cleveland Hills in the other.

By September the rooms will be full of 1,000 students – aimed at part-time and those from the local area – with an array of courses, such as business, health and humanities.

On the day the university soared past some of its competitors in The Guardian’s league table, deputy vicechancellor Professor Eileen Martin said: “We felt we wanted a presence in the town. We think this will be good for the town and good for the university.

It’s an absolutely fantastic building. The university is looking forward to opening the campus in September.”

Alasdair MacConachie, chairman of the Darlington Partnership, said: “It’s stunning.

It’s great for Darlington, great for the university and greater still for the College.

The building is amazing – creative, futuristic and modern.”

Seth Pearson, partnership director, said: “It’s what the university does for the town that is the main thing.

“If young people are concerned that the costs of going to university is prohibitive, having this in town gives them a signal that it is achievable.”

It will be another month before the university can move in. After then public tours will be available before students enter in the autumn. Prospectuses are available at tees.ac.uk