New building a tribute to the ‘factory king’

L-R
Professor Tim Thornton University of Huddersfield Deputy Vice-Chancellor
James Berry Johnsons Wellfield Managing Director
Colin Blair University of Huddersfield Director of Estates
Katie Berry Johnsons Wellfield Director — L-R Professor Tim Thornton University of Huddersfield Deputy Vice-Chancellor James Berry Johnsons Wellfield Managing Director Colin Blair University of Huddersfield Director of Estates Katie Berry Johnsons Wellfield Director

The new Oastler building is named after Richard Oastler, a Huddersfield man who became known as the “factory king” in the 19th century because he fought so hard to stop children from being exploited.

Construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall has sourced £210,000 of local Yorkstone which will be used on parts of the building.

The 7,500 square metre, six-storey building is being developed in a prime campus location, opposite the Shorehead roundabout between Queensgate and Wakefield Road in the town.

The £27.5m building will provide a new home for the University’s Law School and the School of Music, Humanities and Media. Around 166 tonnes of Yorkstone will be delivered from Johnsons Wellfield Quarries in Huddersfield, which was established in 1854. It has supplied Yorkstone around the world, paving and cladding some of the best known buildings including London’s South Bank promenade and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Mark Heginbotham, project director from Morgan Sindall, said: “Where we can, we source materials, suppliers and staff from the local area and it is fantastic that we are able to use local stone in the creation of this landmark building.

“It is, of course, important that we source materials from a sustainably and professionally managed operation.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Thornton, from the University of Huddersfield, said: “The university is proud of the role it plays in supporting the region’s economy. To be able to work with local suppliers on projects is important to us, and we endeavour to do this wherever this offers best value.”