Sewell Construction scoops major award for Leeds project

Sewell Construction has scooped a prestigious award for its work in returning a historic Leeds building to its former glory. 

Located in the heart of the South Bank in Leeds city centre, Leeds City College’s Print Hall provides a unique learning environment for students while the historical importance of the building has been respected and its character preserved. 

Now, Sewell Construction has won the Committed to Heritage and Refurbishment Award in the Committed to Construction in Humber and West Yorkshire Awards 2016. 

Run by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the awards were held at New Dock Hall in Leeds on Friday, April 22, with Sewell taking the top spot over fellow shortlisted projects York Minster and Dean Clough Mills in Halifax. 

Sewell Project Manager Mark Dodgson said: “We are really proud to receive this award and it was a fantastic team effort on a bespoke and iconic project. 

“The building is in the heart of the upcoming South Bank development and other buildings are going up around it, which has created an education hub as part of ongoing work to kickstart regeneration in the area. 

“These awards are a celebration of best practice, achievement and innovation, and we are delighted to receive this recognition following our single team approach to meet the requirements of a leading education provider.” 

Set against the backdrop of the Grade II listed former Alf Cooke Printworks, the college has created a world class teaching environment whilst ensuring the historic significance of the Print Hall is celebrated and showcased. 

Detailed consultations allowed the team to respond to the existing features of the Print Hall, minimising the need to modify the environment and limit any intrusive works that could compromise the character of the former industrial space. 

Work on site started in December 2014 and finished in June 2015. It forms part of a wider Printworks Campus redevelopment by Sewell, which is expected to be completed in May. 

Parties involved in the Print Hall project include architects Fuse Studios, project management, structural and service engineering by AECOM, cost management from Turner and Townsend, supervising from Monaghans, and mechanical and electrical installation by G&H Building Services. 

Mark said: “We’d like to thank everybody involved, in particular the project delivery companies, for coming together to achieve such a great outcome. Everyone played their part in securing this award and it’s wonderful to be part of such a strong team.” 

The project was also shortlisted in the awards’ Project of the Year under £5 million category. 

Now, the Sewell Construction team is looking ahead to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards in Harrogate on May 13, in which the project is shortlisted in the Building Conservation category. 

Jason Challender, Director of Physical Resources at Leeds City College, said: “We’re delighted to have won this prestigious award for our Printworks hall. It’s testament to the hard work that has gone into this refurbishment. 

“The state-of-the-art campus houses specialist vocational subjects, including hairdressing and beauty therapy, catering, hospitality and food manufacture, which relocated from the former Thomas Danby Campus. 

“The Sewell team has worked closely with us to formulate robust proposals that satisfy our requirements.

“The next phase of the Printworks development is currently underway and is expected to be completed by spring 2017. We’re looking forward to seeing the results.”

Read more about the project here – Leeds City College Printhall refurbishment.