Construction of University’s £30m Barbara Hepworth building reaches major milestone

The University of Huddersfield’s new £30m centre for the study of art, design and architecture has reached a major milestone with a ‘topping out’ ceremony.

The, 7,500 sq m Barbara Hepworth Building, named after the West Yorkshire-born sculptor, will comprise five storeys.

The topping out ceremony was conducted by Dr Sophie Bowness, the granddaughter of Barbara Hepworth, and in the presence of main contractor Morgan Sindall’s managing director for Construction, Pat Boyle.

Dr Bowness, who is an art historian and a trustee of the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield, was invited to turn a bolt on one of the 146 aluminium panels that will be fixed to the glazed walls of the new building.

Their function will be to reduce solar glare, but architects AHR have ensured that they are also an artistic adornment.

One of the great sculptors of the 20th century, Hepworth was the first choice to be commemorated by the new University of Huddersfield building, and at the topping out ceremony Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan thanked Dr Bowness for giving permission to use her grandmother’s name.

In addition to this building, Morgan Sindall also completed the University’s £28m Oastler Building, which opened in 2017.

After Dr Bowness had carried out the ceremony, Professor Cryan praised the “dream team” from Morgan Sindall who were carrying out construction work nine weeks ahead of schedule.

The Barbara Hepworth Building will be completed in the spring and be ready for use at the start of the 2019 academic year.