IT'S the final countdown to the opening of Glasgow's super campus.

City of Glasgow College will be the largest higher education campus in Europe when it opens one year from now.

And this image shows exactly what the state-of-the-art centre will look like.

Once completed, the £228million site will be the size of 11 football pitches, have its own roof garden, and host around 40,000 students.

City of Glasgow College Principal Paul Little said: "We are equipping young people for the world of 21st century work and this will be a truly state-of-the-art campus built to bring employers, students and teachers together in a 21st century industry-standard working environment.

"It will help us put college education on the map and ensure Scotland can be proud of its world-leading colleges as well as its world-leading universities."

Split across two sites, Riverside Campus and City Campus, the college will have around 300 high-tech classrooms, including writable walls and lecture theatres that can host performances and convert into kitchens for Masterchef-style demonstrations.

There will also be nearly 70 workshops, studios, labs and salons for courses, including design, fashion, cookery, photography and beauty.

Other features include a mock aeroplane cabin, a working ship's engine room, a ship simulator allowing students to experience the bridge of a huge super tanker, and a renewable energy centre.

Mr Little added: "City of Glasgow College students deserve the best and soon they will have a world-class campus designed to the highest industry standards.

"The opening of the campus will mark a hugely significant development for Scottish college education and is a great opportunity for the city."

Riverside Campus, the first phase of the twin-site supercampus, is being built on the banks of the Clyde.

It is set to open in August next year, delivering Centres for Excellence in specialist engineering and marine and nautical education.

Second phase, City Campus, is being built in the heart of the city, in Cathedral Street, and will open in August 2016.

The full construction of the campus is supporting more than 150 construction jobs and 40 new apprenticeships.

Education Secretary Michael Russell added: "City of Glasgow College is a fine example of what Scotland's college sector is capable of and the investment and invention that has been put into the new building will ensure its students have the best possible experience for their studies.

"I very much look forward to seeing the new building."

The college has released a film of how the campus will look. It is available to view at www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk/about-us/new-campus-project.

catriona.stewart@eveningtimes.co.uk