York College has a £60 million building with first-class resources designed with post-16 students in mind. This, combined with an Outstanding Ofsted grade (December 2013) and the highest standards for individual student achievement, provides an outstanding environment for teaching and learning. Although originally founded as the Mechanics’ Institute in 1827, the College in its present form was established in 1999 by a merger of York Sixth Form College and York College of Further and Higher Education; formerly York College of Arts and Technology. A major redevelopment of the former Sixth Form College site began in 2005, and the present campus opened in September 2007.The College has state of the art facilities including the opening of a brand new Construction Skills Centre in September 2015,. The College houses the Alan Ayckbourn Theatre, Ashfields restaurant, hair and beauty salons, spa and nail bar, a 3G sports pitch and multi-use games area, engineering and construction workshops, art and design studios and a Learning Centre on three floors equipped with the latest technology. Some College facilities can also be hired out for commercial use and external events.