School of Fine Arts completed

A year-long programme to transform a former geography building into a first class learning environment for students has been completed.

The £7.6 million School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at the University of Leeds has undergone a complete refurbishment.

The building is now fully operational for the start of term as students return this month.

Paul Cook, Project Manager in the University Estates Service, said:

“This has been a thoroughly rewarding project.

“We are incredibly pleased with the significant transformation of the original building to what it has become now, which is a modern environment that will enable the school to become a leading centre for art, heritage and critical humanities and culture in the UK. ”

Abigail Harrison Moore, Head of the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, said everyone was “delighted” with the building.

She said:

“The sympathetic restoration of this historic building, linked through its architect, Paul Waterhouse, to the architectural style that formed the beginnings of the University of Leeds 100 years ago, has enabled the development of a School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies ready for the next 100 years of excellent teaching and research.

Our students are excited to be starting or continuing their degrees in the amazing new studio, workshop and teaching spaces.

Studying in this impressive space for art and culture at the heart of the campus will enable them to continue to benefit from the unique inter-disciplinary approaches to the subjects that our school is celebrated for nationally and internationally.

We are very grateful to the teams of builders, architects and engineers who have turned our ideas into reality, and to the Estates team that have made this possible.”

Sewell Construction Project Manager Mark Dodgson added:

“We are delighted to be able to create a state-of-the-art learning environment for students of the future.”