Developer hopes to replicate success with £80m arts building

George Downing Construction (GDC), based in Liverpool, is driving the development of Leeds Beckett University’s new hub for creative education in the city.

The building, designed by architect Hawkins/Brown, will be home to the university’s School of Film, Music and Performing Arts, plus the fashion department.

It will include a performance theatre and 220-seat Dolby Atmos movie cinema, as well as specialist studios for fashion, music, film and television.

Ian Orton, director of GDC, which has just started on-site, said: “This is an exciting scheme, which will form a new home for creative education at Leeds Beckett and we’re delighted to be starting on site.

“This landmark building will include a number of outstanding technical features and facilities, creating a world-class learning environment at the heart of the campus.”

He added: “GDC is well versed in delivering best-in-class facilities for universities across the UK.

“We looking forward to bringing this experience to bear on this development and working closely with both the university and the wider project team as we construct this innovative new home for the arts in Leeds.”

Professor Peter Slee, vice chancellor of Leeds Beckett University, said: “Through the outstanding creative education and training we supply to 1,800 students per year, the innovative research and knowledge exchange we pursue within the industry and through the opportunities we provide for networking, Leeds Beckett University is a major contributor to the success of the cultural and creative industries of Leeds and the ‘creative conurbation’ which is developing in the greater North.”

He added: “Our £80m investment in world leading facilities in film, television, music, fashion, dance, drama and performance, will further enhance our positive social, cultural and economic impact.”

As the flagship development in the city’s new innovation district, the Creative Arts Building will sit in the heart of Leeds’ Civic Quarter.

It is located on Portland Way, opposite the Rose Bowl - the university’s Business School.

The innovation district is a partnership between Leeds Beckett University, the University of Leeds, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Leeds City Council.

The partnership aims to attract new research facilities and drive economic development and regeneration.

It will provide a range of work spaces, create new development opportunities and provide housing to attract and retain skilled workers in the city.

The Creative Arts building is due for completion in September 2020.

It is the first new development in a £200m programme of investment at Leeds Beckett over the next five years.

It is also the final phase of GDC’s £100m transformation of the once vacant wider site into the distinctive City Village campus living environment.

GDC and Leeds Beckett have enjoyed a successful partnership for over a decade.

The Creative Arts building follows the flagship, multi-award-winning Broadcasting Place development featuring student accommodation and teaching space that GDC delivered for Leeds Beckett in 2009.

The Broadcasting Tower building at the heart of the development beat competition from buildings including the Burj Khalifa to be named Best Tall Building in the World by CTBUH – a global panel of architects and the world’s leading authority on tall buildings.

The architect behind the Creative Arts building, Hawkins/Brown, has offices in London and Manchester.

The firm has designed buildings all over the UK including the first two phases of the Park Hill estate regeneration project in Sheffield.