Topping out completed on first purpose-built women’s centre in the UK for 20 years

Construction firm Hobson & Porter has completed the topping out phase of what is believed to be the first purpose-built women’s centre in the UK for 20 years.

Based in Hull, Preston Road Women’s Centre offers women access to domestic violence and abuse services, sexual health services, outreach support, nursery provision, accredited courses, a housing service, legal services, a volunteer programme and a young women’s participation project.

Known as Purple House, the new centre has been designed by architect Helen Smith of LNS Partnership. It will include a charity shop, bigger nursery, more meeting and teaching rooms.

Established in 2000, the centre has directly helped more than 4000 women, and engaged with many thousands more from its current building on Preston Road. As its services have grown, the organisation has outgrown its current space.

Ann Clarkson, centre coordinator for Preston Road Women’s Centre, said: “Though our old centre has served us well, we are excited to be so close to moving into the new building, a move we have been planning for the last two years.

“Over the last 18 years we have helped so many women across Hull and we are thrilled to be able to extend our services to even more women and children with this new building.”

The new building has a complex roof structure with roof hips, ridges and rafters meeting at multiple complex junctions, combined with complex glazing installations to maximise light. The roof also has a number of velux windows and ‘light tunnels’ which reflect light down a stainless-steel tube into the first-floor ceilings.

Dave Blades, business development director for Hobson & Porter, added: “We are now in the final stages of the construction of the new Preston Road Women’s Centre, which will be handed over next month.

“The construction of the centre has been a wonderful project to be involved in and we have greatly enjoyed working with the centre’s team and learning what a difference this work will make to the local community.

“Hobson & Porter has always been proud to work on schemes that have a positive impact on the communities we serve, and this custom-built centre will ensure the centre has all the facilities they need, and a comfortable and modern space fit for such a worthy organisation.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close