£30m university building reaches completion

Credit: AHR

A £30m building to house University of Huddersfield’s School of Art, Design and Architecture has been completed.

The Barbara Hepworth Building was designed by AHR Architects and built by Morgan Sindall Construction. The end of work on the property was celebrated with a visit from HRH The Duke of York.

Credit: AHR

Anthony Langan, Director and Education Lead at AHR, said: “The School’s aspiration and our shared vision with the university was to bring together students and staff across different creative courses and generations.

“We achieved this by approaching the design of the building as one open and flexible learning hub that will catalyse creativity through interconnected working and learning spaces.

“This also includes more relaxed areas, such as the café and outdoor terraces, which allow important chance encounters and casual discussions to take place.

“As architects, it is a great honour to design an exemplary and inspirational building in which the architects, designers and creatives of the future will develop their craft. We are very proud of what we have created and look forward to the possibilities that will be realised through its use.”

Paul Limb, Project Director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “This has been incredibly rewarding for our team to work on.

“We’ve developed a strong relationship with the university over recent years, and it’s been a privilege to welcome students onto the site to learn more about the complex construction process involved in creating incredible buildings like this.

“Through the use of cutting-edge technology we’ve been able to deliver AHR’s ambitious vision for the university and create a building befitting of Barbara Hepworth’s legacy, and one that is the perfect environment for the School’s students to nurture their crafts.”

The design team was inspired by the art of origami, developing an innovative and iconic cantilever structure that addresses the site’s five-metre level change, while celebrating its canal-side location by offering stunning views.

The façade boasts a laser-cut veil, each panel individually designed by AHR, inspired by textiles and the history of the neighbouring mills, but with a contemporary and abstract twist. The panels minimise glare and overheating, while the building’s transparency gives passers-by an intriguing glimpse of the creative processes and advanced technologies at work within.

Credit: AHR

An airy entrance atrium provides a central navigation point and a powerful welcome.

The Phidias Lab allows students from across the School to enjoy and showcase work in virtual design disciplines, with high performance visualisation and motion capture resources.

Other facilities include the Materials Library, textile design studios, print and dye areas, workshop areas, postgraduate research space, lecture space, and studios for photography, graphic design, product design and fashion, with CAD computer laboratories.

To bring AHR’s vision to life, Morgan Sindall Construction deployed the latest digital construction and mixed-reality technology to enable its team to better examine the project as it developed. 3D laser scanning proving crucial during the construction of the building’s cantilevered structure.

The use of Microsoft Hololens enabled the project team to inspect and complete walk-throughs within a projection of the building to undertake surveys and risk assessments of the project as it developed.

The building’s completion means the conclusion of another successful project by AHR for University of Huddersfield.

The practice has completed a range of work across the Queensgate Campus, including the design and delivery of the £27m Oastler Building – also built by Morgan Sindall Construction – the remodelling and refurbishment of the Joseph Priestley Building, and the conversion of the historic Sir John Ramsden Court from flats into university office accommodation.

AHR was shortlisted for Higher Education Architect of the Year in the 2019 BD Architect of the Year Awards, and has won two RIBA Regional Awards this year.

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