UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS

CLIENT: UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS   |   TYPE OF WORK: REMODELLING, REFURB & DESIGN   |   VALUE: £1.4m   |   DURATION: 8 MONTHS   |   SECTOR: EDUCATION

The University of Leeds were looking to improve the audio-visual facilities of several lecture theatres within the Roger Stevens Building.

With sustainability in mind, they were looking for more innovative ways to incorporate environmentally friendly elements, that were also aesthetically pleasing and would bring a more modern feel to the existing theatres.

The solution

The solution was to create a more modern, accessible teaching space by reconfiguring and upgrading three of the Roger Stevens lecture theatres.

The challenges

  • Logistical challenges and constraints of working within a university environment, plus disruptions brought on by the covid-19 pandemic, including site shutdowns
  • Segregating the space for site access only
  • Material delays and long lead times – having to work to tight deadlines to get the lecture theatres complete in time for the next academic year
  • Specialist testing of the bespoke AV equipment installed
  • Out of hours working to strip out existing theatres before the main refurbishment works could begin

The result

  • Three brand new lecture theatres
  • New seating areas, including improved accessibility
  • Top of the range ICT / AV equipment
  • Purpose made furniture and bespoke joinery items
  • Green wall using preserved greenery
  • Other soft finishes to ensure the high-performance acoustic properties of the rooms during lectures
  • Other works included installing new timber ceilings and repairing existing timber flooring
  • External works to replace the existing roof glazing on the 12th floor during university breaks
  • Creation of a new metal staircase from the PLANT room to upper roof