Esther Simpson Exterior

New flagship building is a stunning new gateway to campus

The Esther Simpson building, a new flagship teaching facility for the School of Law and LUBS officially opened its doors at the start of term.   

The innovative teaching centre provides world-class facilities that support participative learning and create an inspirational setting for staff and students. It is also home to collaborative and inclusive learning spaces to enable the delivery of activities to support students to develop the knowledge, skills, behaviours and professional competencies to better equip them for working in a global environment. 

Building completion

The building was handed over to the University by construction company BAM in early September and over the last few weeks the final fit-out stage has been completed. The building hosts a variety of teaching spaces, a new café and a beautifully designed new artwork sculpture.  

Commenting on the building, Director of Estates, Steve Gilley said:

“We are absolutely delighted with the Esther Simpson building, it is a fabulous building which contributes to the University’s wider ambition to create an environment that promotes learning, innovation and enterprise.  

“The success of this project has been a result of diligent project management by colleagues in Estates and strong collaboration with colleagues in LUBS and Law. Throughout, we have worked together to ensure everything worked in the best possible manner.  

“The building also creates a stunning new gateway for campus. Our University community will now be able to easily navigate their way from Clarendon Road into the heart of campus in a matter of minutes. The route is fully accessible with newly refurbished pedestrian paths and tactile paving in addition to an accessible ramp installed along the route towards Storm Jameson.” 

Executive Dean of the Business School, Julia Bennell said:

“The teaching facilities provided by the Esther Simpson building are truly state-of-the-art and among the best in the UK. It will offer an inspiring environment for our staff and students. The technology enhanced collaborative learning spaces, specialist observation laboratories, trading rooms and a magnificent Harvard style lecture theatres are critical parts of our strategy to lead in interactive pedagogies. 

“I would like to offer my sincere thanks to everybody who has contributed to delivering this project. It is a wonderful achievement and one that will go a long way to supporting us in delivering our new ambitious University and Business School strategies. 

“The building will give us a platform to deliver something truly unique for business school students and help us to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to make a real difference to society.” 

Benefits of the teaching spaces

Trading rooms 

The Esther Simpson Building will benefit from having two 24 seat trading rooms. The primary trading room will be a real showpiece for the building and is housed in a glass room visible from the main reception area. Having the trading rooms will allow students to practice trading in a safe environment using real time information. It helps bridge the gap between theory and practice, giving students the opportunity to apply finance theories to decision making through real world scenarios 

Behaviour labs

There are behaviour labs that are divided into three areas, the data collection lab, observation room and the boardroom. These are a real differentiator for the Business School and will enable students and researchers to undertake real-time observational research and data collection. 

Lecture theatres

As well as a wide range of teaching spaces the building has two state-of-the-art lecture theatres – a 240 seat Harvard Style lecture theatre and a 390-seat traditional lecture theatre. The Harvard-style lecture theatre is gently raked to give good vision for all users and each seat will turn 180 degrees to allow for easier collaboration. Both lecture theatres are designed with plenty of space between the seats, have individual power supplies, are decorated to promote concentration and allow students to interact digitally with the academic staff. 

Professor Louise Ellison, Head of School, School of Law added:

 “The School of Law is incredibly excited about the opening of the Esther Simpson building. We aim to create a campus environment that is truly inspirational and that meets the standards that we set as one of the UK’s leading law schools.  

“This new building will help provide a transformative teaching space close to our Liberty Building home on the Western Campus and allow us to further develop our student experience.” 

Beautifully designed sculpture

The building is also home to a striking new sculpture installation which joins many other unique pieces to form the University artwork trail. The words titled “To Leaf is to Learn” scripted by University Poet Laureate and Professor of Poetry, Simon Armitage    adorn the sculpture and illustrate the concept of the artwork representing a notebook sheet.  

Commenting on the artwork and the unique opportunity to create the sculpture, world-renowned Spanish sculptor, Juanjo Novella said:   

“This is my first artwork in the UK, and I am honoured! I am very pleased with the sculpture. I planned this project as a realm of limitations such as a lack of adequate space to display a sculpture, obstacles such as the tree, the fence, and the need to keep the electrical substation hidden. Those cons were a real challenge and I enjoyed it. The result had to be a unique answer, it had to be beautiful and meaningful while meeting the environmental and place demands. 

“I’m also very happy it forms part of the University of Leeds art trail. It is distinguished from other art routes by its expressive silence and elegant tone. The pieces are part of the architecture, they are not ‘screaming’, all of them remain calm and their expression is slow and deep. It also represents a historical trace in terms of time.”

Layla Bloom, Curator, University Galleries commented:

“Novella’s ‘Curtain’ sculpture is a stunning addition to the University’s growing public art trail. The collaboration between artist and poet adds such an inspiring message for our students, welcoming them to the joy of learning.  It also highlights the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability – on a grand scale.

The Esther Simpson Building

Find out more about the project.

Still from the Esther Simpson time-lapse camera of August's progress

The Esther Simpson Building: progress so far

The latest updates from the Esther Simpson Building project

Since the last project update in June there has been major progress at The Esther Simpson Building project on Cloberry Street.

Recent update from BAM Construction:

  • We have completed forming the basement structure and poured all the higher slabs.  We have only the remaining ground floor slab to install on site under the lecture theatre.
  • Now the Upper Floors have been cast we are able to start installing the main roof for the new building.  Materials will be brought in a lifted up using the site crane to allow the works to progress.
  • We have had built 203 pre-cast panels with windows for the envelope of the building.  Some of these weigh up to 8 tonnes and is the reason we have such a large crane on site.  They will be hoisted into position and bolted to the side of the building.
  • The panels are progressing around the building as we continue to enclose the building
  • Works ongoing to form the main roof to the building working from the Southern side (Substation) towards North side (Cloberry Street)
  • The installation of the 3rd floor Curtain Wall which forms a band of glass around the top floor of the building will commence soon.
  • Works will begin to install the plasterboard walls internally.
  • Works are now underway installing PV to the top of Newlyn Building roof.  We are also undertaking works still within the Storm Jameson plantroom.
  • Landscape works will commence on the corner of Woodsley Road & Clarendon Road next to Charles Thackrah Building.

Time-lapse

A photograph of Esther Simpson

The Esther Simpson Building

The latest phase of the LUBS and School of Law Expansion project will pay tribute to the University of Leeds graduate, Esther Simpson.

Esther Simpson, who graduated from Leeds in 1924 with first class honours in French with German, spent nearly all her working life as secretary to the Academic Assistance Council (later, the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning – SPSL). She was awarded the OBE in 1956; the French Government made her Officier d’Académie; and after her retirement in 1966, she received two honorary doctorates, including one from Leeds in 1989.

In honour of her career, this new building is now officially called The Esther Simpson Building. It will be a new central teaching space for all to use and will provide technology-rich, flexible teaching spaces, lecture theatres, and trading rooms. Work began at the Lyddon Terrace site in Winter 2019 and is due to be completed in 2021.

Watch a fly-through of the Esther Simpson Building.

 

 

 

Learn more about the Cloberry Street Building project

Work begins on new teaching facility

Colleagues have come together to mark the start of work on a new teaching facility on Lyddon Terrace.

Representatives from Estates, Leeds University Business School and the School of Law joined the contractor BAM construction and architects DLA Architecture to mark this important construction milestone.

LUBS Ground Breaking

Richard Gaughan, Gardiner & Theobald LLP; Kevin Pollard, BAM; Craig Reed, Director of DLA Architecture; Professor Nicholas Scott, Leeds University Business School; Professor Julia Bennell, Leeds University Business School; Steve Gilley, Estates and Facilities Services; Dennis Hopper, Director of Campus Developments; Mitali Agrawal, Leeds University Business School; Ben Walker, Gardiner & Theobald LLP; Mark Sanderson, BAM

The investment, on Lyddon Terrace, will create a new central teaching facility which will also house space for the Business School and the School of Law.  It is proposed that prominent features of the building will include a new Trading Room, flexible teaching areas and Behavioural Laboratories to provide more flexible and innovative ways of teaching.

Steve Gilley, Director of Estates and Facilities said: “This new building is contributing to the University’s wider ambition to create an environment that promotes learning, innovation and enterprise. It will provide technology-rich, flexible teaching spaces, lecture theatres and trading rooms, further advancing the delivery of world-class teaching solutions.”

Professor Julia Bennell, Dean of Leeds University Business School, said: It is wonderful to mark the beginning of the construction of this new state-of-the-art teaching facility. I am grateful to the many Business School colleagues and Leeds University Union (LUU) students who contributed to designing what will be a world class student-centred learning environment. These new facilities will further enhance our reputation as a leading Business School.

Mitali Agrawal, a Business School Student Representative for the Marketing division said: “This important investment in the new building is testament to the dedication and commitment of the Business School in enhancing its students’ learning experiences here at the University.”

BAM construction director, Kelvin Pollard, said: “It is fantastic to be building another world-class teaching facility at the University of Leeds, where we are already on site delivering the Sir William Henry Bragg building. We have well-established, strong working relationships with the University and this is an excellent basis to work from.”

Click here for more information about this project.

Maurice Keyworth refurbishment project

Creating inspiring and engaging spaces

The Design Office has recently completed the Maurice Keyworth refurbishment project. 

They worked with the Business School to create an inspiring and engaging study space for students to work in a variety of different ways. The space has been divided into zones using furniture solutions that encourage collaborative group work as well as quiet areas for individual study and contemplation.

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LIC building is now the Clarendon Building

LUBS Expansion: Clarendon Building update

The Leeds Innovation Centre (LIC) is now the Clarendon Building.

The Sewell Group Construction has been working on the £2.7m upgrade to facilities that will further advance the provision of education facilities for students within Leeds University Business School.

So far, they’ve had 105 people inducted to the site and 400 metres of refrigeration pipework has been installed. New wall locations have been constructed across all floors forming the new room layouts. Mechanical and electrical works have progressed across all disciplines.
Structural door widening works have continued to all floors.

The Ground floor, which will be a computer cluster will be ready for use as the autumn term begins.

Over the next few weeks, Mechanical and electrical works will continue, floor finishes will commence and the external facade louvre installation will be completed.

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LUBS Expansion Newlyn Building

Second Phase of the LUBS expansion is complete

Phase two of a multi-million pound project to develop new Leeds University Business School buildings is now complete. 

The Newlyn Building, on Mount Preston Street, provides central teaching space, specifically four flat-floor teaching rooms with a capacity for 100 people and four teaching rooms each with a capacity for 36 people.

Occupation of the building takes place from this month, with the Language Centre using the space for pre-sessional courses over the summer and teaching commencing in October.

Nick Scott, the Academic Lead for the £75 Million LUBS and Law Transformation programme which includes the Newlyn Building and other associated projects commented:

“We will continue to attract a high-quality, internationally diverse body of students and deliver an exceptional learning experience, comparable with other leading Schools, through providing an environment that supports students and staff to achieve their full potential, whilst maintaining our ability to enhance, innovate and adapt student education practices. The Newlyn Building is just one part of our programme that will enable us to achieve this vision.

Tamsin Barrow, Facilities Manager, Leeds University Business School added: “The Newlyn Building will provide additional Business School Teaching space. It is located closer to Western Campus which means our students have easy access to the Faculty and related spaces. We are continuing to work with Estates on our Faculty Strategy to create high quality facilities for our students to use.”

Following the completion of the Newlyn Building, Stage three of the LUBS investment project, will commence in November, with the construction of a new multi-storey teaching facility on Cloberry Street. It will be shared by LUBS, the School of Law and Central Teaching Space.  Prominent features of the building will include a new Trading Room, lecture theatres, flexible teaching areas and Behavioural Laboratories to provide more flexible and innovative ways of teaching.

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Clobbery

First look at the new LUBS building on Cloberry Street

The LUBS Expansion project is a three-phase multi-million pound investment to improve and develop the Leeds University Business School.

Phase three is the construction of a new multi-storey teaching facility on Cloberry Street that will be shared by the Business School, School of Law and central teaching space. The features of the new build will include a new Trading Room, flexible teaching areas and Behavioural Laboratories.

DLA Designs has created a fly through of what the building will look like.

The work is due to be completed in Autumn 2021.

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LUBS artists impression May 2018

New images of multi-million pound LUBS investment

Artist’s impressions have been released to show how the multi-million pound investment in Leeds University Business School (LUBS) will look when finished.

Phase one of the scheme – the refurbishment of teaching areas in Charles Thackrah building, with the addition of a new café – has been successfully completed.

The three-phase scheme commenced early this year and includes the construction of a new building in Mount Preston Street, adjacent to Bright Beginning Nursery. This will provide additional central teaching space, specifically four flat-floor teaching rooms, with a capacity for 100 people, and four teaching rooms, each providing capacity for 36 people.

This building, which forms phase two of the development, is expected to be completed in time for the start of the new academic year in October.

The final phase will be finished by the summer of 2020, following the construction of a new multi-storey teaching facility in Cloberry Street, shared by LUBS, the School of Law, the School of Languages and Central Teaching Space. Prominent features of the building, including a new Trading Room, teaching areas and Behavioural Laboratories, will provide more flexible and innovative ways of teaching.

  
Projects Map

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Wolfson Centre

Exciting new developments…

A number of exciting new projects have progressed significantly over the past few months, ranging from on-campus developments to collaborations across the Yorkshire region.

The most recent projects feature the development of a modular building for the Faculty of Biological Sciences, investments in Spen Farm, and the development of a major new Leeds-Bradford Centre for Applied Health Research – a joint venture between the Universities of Leeds, Bradford and Bradford Institute for Health Research (pictured).

In addition, the Leeds University Business School (LUBS) expansion is well underway along with the new Leeds Engineering and Technology Campus (LETeC).

  
Projects Map

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