Atkins and Scottish firm Michael Laird Partnership have won a competition for one of the largest college redevelopments in Europe.

The team will design a £300 million new campus in Glasgow after beating rival bids from RMJM working with Frank Gehry, Archial, BDP, and Hopkins working with Bennetts Associates.

The development, for client New Campus Glasgow, will form an academic quarter for four of the city’s further education colleges – Stow, Central College, Glasgow Metropolitan and Glasgow College of Nautical Studies.

The facilities – expected to be spread over two sites in the city’s Cathedral street and Thistle street – will cater for 50,000 students and 2,000 staff.

Paul Dollin, Atkins managing director said: “The success of our bid is just reward for our education-led design approach to the New Campus.

“We focused on the experience of the users and how the campus could become a catalyst for transforming education in Glasgow. We are looking forward to working with New Campus Glasgow and the colleges to create the landmark buildings which will deliver their shared vision.”

Building work is likely to begin in early 2012 and be completed in time for the Commonwealth Games in summer 2014.

An early element in the project, the Marine Skills Centre on the Clyde, is already under construction.