The Edwardian Building, University of Sheffield
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Summary
The Edwardian Building: a nexus of academia and restoration
The Edwardian Building, also known as Firth Court, is part of the Western Bank Campus at the University of Sheffield. This Grade II listed red-brick structure serves as the University’s main administrative centre and houses the Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, and Biomedical Science Departments.
A multilevel scientific hub
The building features six flat roofs and one pitched roof, each at varying levels. It serves as a multi-storey academic facility, primarily used for scientific experiments. The rooms beneath these roofs accommodate laboratories, research facilities, and offices.
Restoring the Edwardian legacy: combating Regents Disease
Our works involved repair and resurfacing due to the identification of Regents Disease—a corrosion-related issue which can significantly impact both aesthetics and structural integrity of buildings.
Phase 1 included re-roofing, repairs, a full strip-out, and the installation of a new high-performance bitumen system. External repairs to columns included cutting out sections of brickwork, treating the existing steel frame, and repointing.
Uninterrupted operations amidst renovations
Located in the heart of Sheffield City Centre, the Edwardian Building stands as an essential component of a thriving university campus. Careful and precise logistics planning provided uninterrupted access to Firth Court and the adjacent structures, which are intricately connected to other University of Sheffield buildings. Despite ongoing construction activities, both the Edwardian Building and Firth Court continued to operate throughout the works. Our effective communication with the University allowed us to meticulously schedule our work, ensuring that classes, laboratory sessions, and exams proceeded seamlessly within the building, with all critical services remaining unaffected.
Project team
PM/QS/Architect/Principal Designer: Rider Levett Bucknall
Structural engineer: Arup
M&E engineer: Services Design Associates
Route to market: Procure Partnerships
The project was secured through the Procure Partnerships framework, a specialist in new build construction and refurbishment projects for the public sector across England.
