Wolfson Centre project is now complete
The £3.1m collaborative partnership between the University of Leeds, University of Bradford and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will open its doors in July.
The Centre, established beside Bradford Royal Infirmary, will bring together researchers from the Universities of Leeds and Bradford. It has been made possible thanks to a £1 million award from national charity the Wolfson Foundation, which awards grants to support and promote excellence in the fields of science, medicine, the arts and humanities, education and health and disability.
The 900m2, two-storey steel framed building, has been built and delivered by Sewell Construction. The building comprises of two large open plan office areas, a large seminar room and six smaller rooms to be used as meeting rooms or quiet rooms. It is cladded externally with brick work up to first floor and timber cladded from the first floor up to the roof. Over the construction period, 200m3 of concrete has been poured, 80 tonnes of steel erected, 15,000 bricks laid, 8 miles of electrical cable installed, 4 miles of heating / water pipework installed, 800 plasterboards used, 250 site inductions and 2,000 cups of tea consumed.
“It is a very attractive building and will make a big difference to health research, with experts coming together under one roof.
Mark Dodgson, Project Manager at Sewell Construction, said: “It has been great to work with an existing client – the University of Leeds – but also with two new clients – the University of Bradford and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
“With a single team approach, we worked collaboratively to ensure the smooth running of the project for everyone involved, meeting their needs and requirements for the building.
“The site had its own logistical challenges, as we were building in the middle of a very busy staff car park, and we needed to ensure pedestrians had continued safe access to other areas of the site.
“It is a very attractive building and will make a big difference to health research, with experts coming together under one roof.
“We’re delighted to have been able to create a brand new base for these teams to continue their fantastic work.”
Len Wilson, Deputy Director for Estate Services commented: “This was an exemplar scheme both in design and construction. The successful relationship between the three partner organisations has enabled the building to be delivered on time and budget.”
Health researchers will be based at the centre. It will allow the research to be put into practice by clinical staff on site to help provide better health and social care for people across Yorkshire. The centre will also be home to charities and organisations.
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