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Campus then and now

Campus then and now: Roger Stevens Building

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We’ve been digging through our archive of old campus photos and found a few images that show the campus throughout the years. This month we’re focussing on the Roger Stevens Building.

Then: Original design for Roger Stevens 

The original design for the Roger Stevens was very different from the final lecture theatre, as can be seen in the architecture’s mock-up above! 

The Roger Stevens Building seems to be a bit of a marmite building – people either love it or hate it.

Completed in 1970, the building was designed in the brutalist style by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, which was fashionable between the 50’s and 70’s – as demonstrated in a number of buildings around Leeds – and was actually meant to form just a small part of the wider campus plan, which unfortunately (if you love the style like we do) never came to full fruition due to financial restraints. This blog by Tina Richardson, Lecturer at the School of Design, provides a fascinating insight into the building and its history, gave us the interesting fact that the basement was home to a broadcasting studio.

 

 

Now: Roger Stevens Building (2017)

It is host to 25 lecture theatres offering a range of capacities, including some of the newest and most innovative spaces on campus. It is also home of the Print & Copy Bureau, the one stop shop for all printing, copying, artwork preparation and mailing services at the university.

But our favourite residents are the Mallard ducks which nest in the surrounding undergrowth and use the ornamental pond (which was once used in the air conditioning system for the building – just don’t ask us how!).

It’s also featured in Meet in Leeds Venue of the Month!

Ryan Johnson 

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If you have any past stories about Roger Stevens Building let us know!
Tweet us your throwback images and stories to  @UoLCampusDev #UoLThrowback

 

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Campus then and now

Campus then and now: Leeds University Business School

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We’ve been digging through our archive of old campus photos and found a few images that show the campus throughout the years. This month we’re focussing on the Business School.

Then: Grammar School, Leeds est. 1859

By 1857, the city of Leeds was growing prodigiously due to the Industrial Revolution. The city conditions were dirty and Harrison’s buildings inadequate for a Victorian education. Therefore in 1857 the decision was made by Rev. Alfred Barry (Headmaster) to move the school to new premises next to Woodhouse Moor.  (n.d). In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 2017

 

 

University Business School

Now: Leeds University Business School (2017)

Leeds University Business School is housed in the impressively renovated 19th century Maurice Keyworth Building on the western edge of the University of Leeds campus, which previously belonged to the Leeds Grammar School.

 

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If you have any past stories about Leeds University Business School let us know!
Tweet us your throwback images and stories to  @UoLCampusDev #UoLThrowback

 

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Campus then and now

Campus then and now: University Square

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We’ve been digging through our archive of old campus masterplan photos and found a few images that show the campus throughout the years. This month we’re focusing on University Square.

Now: University Square (2017)

The University’s Precinct is home to a new piece of sculpture by Sue Lawty, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Mitzi Cunliffe’s monumental Man-Made Fibres sculpture in 2016. Texta Texens is located in the walkway outside Clothworkers’ South, developing a dialogue with Cunliffe’s Man-Made Fibres above. It was created in collaboration with poet Helen Mort – Douglas Caster Cultural Fellow at the University 2014-2016 – and sculptor Dan Jones.

Engraved in the sculpture is Dr Mort’s poem ‘Texere’, the words literally becoming part of the weft and weave of the stonework, exploring the link between text and textiles, weaving conversations about life and learning, research and education, people and place on campus.

Celebrating the Yorkshire Year of the Textile on campus 

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If you have any past stories about University Square let us know!
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Campus then and now

Campus then and now: The Great Hall

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We’ve been digging through our archive of old campus masterplan photos and found a few images that show the campus throughout the years. This month we’re focussing on The Great Hall.

The building was designed by Alfred Waterhouse R.A (famed for his works on the Natural History Museum in London) in red pressed brick and had dressings of Bolton Wood stone in a Gothic Collegiate style.

This collegiate style used by Alfred Waterhouse helped to coin the term red brick university. The Gothic style Great Hall incorporated the university’s main library and cost around £22,000 to build which was raised partly by public appeal. It was originally used as the main University Library until the opening of the Brotherton Library in 1936 and other areas which opened in the same period such as the Parkinson Building. As well as being the location for the ceremonial occasions, it was also used for meetings, exams and public lectures.

The Great Hall was opened in October 1894 by the Duke and Duchess of York.

(Source, Wikipedia: “The Great Hall University of Leeds” )

Now: The Great Hall (2017)

The Great Hall is the focus for the University’s ceremonial activities, principally the main degree presentation ceremonies.

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If you have any past stories about The Great Hall.
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Campus then and now

Campus then and now: Engineering

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We’ve been digging through our archive of old campus masterplan photos and found a few images that show the campus throughout the years. This month we’re focusing on the Engineering Building.

Then: Engineering Building  (circa 1963)

Engineering Building c.1963

The Engineering Building was completed during the summer of 1963.

The image below shows the main frontage of the of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, with the sculpture designed by the architect for the building, Allan Johnson of Lanchester & Lodge. The sculpture is an abstract representation of Engineering and is made out of fibreglass.

sculpture

At the time the new Engineering Buildings were seen as the most important addition to the University’s buildings. In the University of Leeds Development Plan Review of 1963, it mentions the positive feedback from staff and students, ‘Staff and Students are delighted with the splendid new laboratories that cover the whole of the available ground space and the concept of  a staff/student coffee bar in each of the buildings has proved to be a most successful idea.’

Now: Engineering Building (2016)

Now called the School of Chemical and Process Engineering, a full refurbishment project is underway.

Set to complete in 2017, enhancements will include full refurbishment of levels 3 to 5, refurbished laboratories, new Postgraduate research space, refurbished lecture theatres and a new 24/7 IT Cluster.

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If you have any past stories about the historic construction of the Parkinson Building or photos of it without its iconic tower please share them with us.
Tweet us your Parkinson throwback images and stories to  @UoLCampusDev #UoLThrowback

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Campus then and now

Campus then and now: Parkinson Building

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Notice something missing? We’ve been digging through our archive of old campus masterplan photos and found a few images that show the campus throughout the years.

The Parkinson Building is a Grade II listed art deco building. The tower is the highest point of the building and stands at 57 metres tall, making it one of tallest buildings in Leeds.

It was named after Frank Parkinson, a major benefactor of the University who oversaw many new build projects from 1936 onwards.

Designed by Thomas Arthur Lodge and built in Portland Stone, construction started in 1938 but due to the war, when it was used as a Ministry of Food storeroom, it was not opened as a University building until 1951.

Share your thoughts

If you have any past stories about the historic construction of the Parkinson Building or photos of it without its iconic tower please share them with us.
Tweet us your Parkinson throwback images and stories to  @UoLCampusDev #UoLThrowback

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