Construction completes at University of Leeds new building

Construction of the new Sir William Henry Bragg building at the University of Leeds, which has been project and programme managed by Arcadis, is now complete and has been formally handed over to the University by construction company BAM.

The handover marks a major milestone on the specialist engineering facility. Work on the project started four years ago and the focus now shifts to fitting out the interior, with a scheduled autumn opening date.

The new building represents a significant investment by the University in a new integrated campus for Engineering and Physical Sciences. The facility will include first-class laboratory and specialised teaching spaces, enabling cutting-edge research, and outstanding student experience, whilst enhancing the University’s research power and strengthening collaboration with industry.

The basement of the Bragg building will house sensitive equipment including some of the most advanced electron microscope technology in the UK for fabricating and investigating new materials. The Bragg building has been designed so that vibration from passing traffic does not interfere with ultra-sensitive laboratory instruments.

The building has received an Excellent grading from the independent assessor BREEAM for its sustainability. The University will be looking at ways to open the facilities to industry, to help quicken the pace of innovation.

Ian Aldous, UK account director for Universities & Science, Arcadis, said: “This world class facility, which has repurposed and reimagined existing buildings and provided exemplary new facilities and is a genuine game changer for the University in terms of how the schools and departments will work together, collaborate and engage with industry. It was deliver a sustained and valuable impact through research, teaching, student experience and discovery.”

David Oldroyd, senior project manager, University of Leeds, said: “Arcadis has provided dedicated and exemplary project and programme management services throughout the design, procurement, delivery and occupation / operational stages of the Sir William Henry Bragg development, a flagship development for the University of Leeds.

“Arcadis has been at the fore of dealing with and overcoming a variety of complex and challenging aspects, and have been agile to respond on the various programme drivers in order that the requirements of the University were achieved and successful outcomes realised on all fronts.

“The Bragg development places the University at the fore of science and engineering learning and research and will foster new partnerships with academia and industry and is an enabler for collaboration and solving problems across science disciplines, thus improving quality of outcomes in shaping science and engineering.”