Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Work starts on world-class Carnegie School of sport facility
The state-of-the-art teaching and research building – at the university’s Headingley Campus – will be home to students and academics from the Carnegie School of Sport.
Undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes will use the Carnegie School of Sport building as a base, while elite athletes will be able to use its outstanding sports science and performance facilities.
The building’s most striking features include an indoor sprint track – cantilevered over the roof – and one of the country’s largest climatic chambers, which can mimic different altitudes and environments.
Professor Peter Slee, Vice Chancellor of Leeds Beckett University, said: “This world-class facility will underline our global reputation for delivering high-impact sports teaching and research. It is part of a wider £200m programme of investment across our campuses, which will further increase the positive contribution we make to our city region and beyond.”
Pete Mackreth, Dean of the Carnegie School of Sport, added: “Many of our academics are international leaders in their field, from anti-doping policy and gender equality in sport to obesity prevention and sports performance. This outstanding new facility will help to ensure that our university continues to attract the most talented students and staff to further enhance our reputation for world-leading research in sport.”
The new facility will further strengthen the university's relationships with the city's top sports clubs and enhance the impact that the school’s research can have on their performance.
Mr Mackreth added: “We have strong partnerships with all four of the major sports teams in Leeds, with many of our alumni employed in influential positions. Our students benefit from real world experiences as part of their learning, and our research programmes are designed with the clubs to improve their performances both on and off the field.”
The building, which has been designed by architects Sheppard Robson, is being delivered by Galiford Try and will be complete in November 2019.
It follows the start of work on a new Leeds School of Arts building at the university’s city campus earlier this year. The £80m facility will be home to the school of film, music and performing arts, and fashion, and will feature a 200-seat theatre and Dolby Atmos movie cinema.
Pictured above (left to right): Sarah Whitehead (PhD student with Leeds Rhinos); Carlos Ramirez (PhD student with Yorkshire Carnegie Rugby); Trevor Armour (Director of Estates); Professor Peter Slee (Vice Chancellor); Pete Mackreth (Dean of the Carnegie School of Sport); Alexandros Kapsis (MRes student with Leeds United); Lauren Mudd (undergraduate student with Yorkshire County Cricket).