Joseph Priestley Building
Huddersfield, UK
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project overview
Creative reuse of a 1960s building
Home to the University of Huddersfield’s (UoH) School of Applied Sciences, the Joseph Priestley building is an outstanding demonstration of the sustainable refurbishment of a complex and inefficient 1960s university building.
We have crafted bespoke teaching and learning environments, catering for the specific requirements of the School with a focus on promoting collaboration and social interaction between.
We sensitively planned and phased the works, to allow parts of the building to remain open - minimising disruption to key research and administration facilities.
Our architecture, building consultancy and interior design services came together to completely remodel the building, giving it a new lease of life. What was once an inefficiently planned and tired building, is now a vibrant, fully accessible building, flooded with natural daylight and transparency allowing students and academic staff to communicate and collaborate as a community.
![AHR-University-JosephPriestley-BuildingConsultancy-Interior7-Huddersfield](https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/JosephPriestly0422.jpg?w=800&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015702&s=e743e8cef582aeececf95e3ec24da891 800w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/JosephPriestly0422.jpg?w=1100&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015702&s=c3f245ac3b68b4b676f3be97dbfa3827 1100w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/JosephPriestly0422.jpg?w=1300&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015702&s=779cfa767b6750c7a8e06a47460b2f83 1300w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/JosephPriestly0422.jpg?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015702&s=8994c2b97c3a55d65d8bf17452696f6e 1600w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/JosephPriestly0422.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015702&s=9351135e7b1c584e4c972e40200ed6eb 1920w)
Project Aims
Investing in the existing estate to attract students and staff
The university set us three key priorities for this project. Create a completely flexible futureproof space to meet all needs, a space to attract the best academics to join and stay at the university and most importantly to enhance the student experience.
We realised early on the promise and benefits of refurbishment and reuse of the existing building.
Through our briefing meetings and design workshops, we demonstrated this added value to staff, estate management and students.
We showed how investing in the existing building would achieve their objectives and support the wider estate strategy.
Design Concept
Crafting from the inside out
AHR has again exceeded our expectations in delivering an inspirational working environment through imaginative appropriation of an existing structure.”
Tim Hosker
Director of Estates and Facilities, University of Huddersfield![AHR-University-JosephPriestley-BuildingConsultancy-Interior6-Huddersfield](https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/JosephPriestly0571.jpg?w=800&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015704&s=6684aa4edc455848ad40f14de2136370 800w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/JosephPriestly0571.jpg?w=1100&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015704&s=31a2db7af6225b08d873d5499bc2a9cf 1100w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/JosephPriestly0571.jpg?w=1300&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015704&s=71be548216c756b4cf60a0b17b6cec64 1300w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/JosephPriestly0571.jpg?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015704&s=37ae9f9553f635b48fee138096104f4b 1600w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/JosephPriestly0571.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015704&s=f8e6a56ffcff8ba39f049e363075e4e2 1920w)
Design realisation
Flexible reuse of an outdated education building
A bespoke contemporary facade was crafted to compliment surrounding buildings, including the nearby listed St Paul’s Hall.
![AHR-University-JosephPriestley-BuildingConsultancy-Exterior3-Huddersfield](https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/IMG_0382_2022-06-24-115816_msxc.jpg?w=800&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015702&s=c7a18fe38c9d8126a3626a3003dd4499 800w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/IMG_0382_2022-06-24-115816_msxc.jpg?w=1096&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015702&s=c88ae74d7305d307fdb35f863e2f10e4 1096w)
![AHR-University-JosephPriestley-BuildingConsultancy-Exterior4-Huddersfield](https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/IMG_0382.jpg?w=800&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015700&s=50a20a3896ed4a72cccc42ebecca5559 800w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Joseph-Priestley/IMG_0382.jpg?w=1096&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015700&s=e16d1a0e114d5d82f2be77feb130d768 1096w)
Key Information
Project summary
Location
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 3DH
Client
University of Huddersfield
Completion
2018
Value
£5.9m
Size
4,750 m2
Includes
Refurbishment and new build extension of 3-storey building
Awards
Education Estates Awards 2019
Winner - Refurbishment of the Year
Insider Yorkshire Property Industry Awards 2019
Winner - Refit and Refurbishment Project of the Year
Building Awards 2019
Shortlisted - Refurbishment Project of the Year
Team
Meet the team behind the project
Contact
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