Working for client, Scarborough Group International (SGI), a leading property regeneration and placemaking expert, Buttress' heritage consultancy joins the team of highly-skilled professionals to spearhead the transformation of the Grade II* listed Old Medical School on the Leeds General Infirmary site into a cutting-edge health tech innovation hub.
Buttress will understand the heritage significance of the site, whilst long-time SGI collaborators Buro Happold, BWF and Zerum will contribute engineering, financial and planning expertise to ensure that the project is completed efficiently and to the highest standards of quality and functionality.
As a key component of the city’s new Innovation Village, the 75,000 sq ft building will be designed to support Health Tech innovation activity around Leeds Teaching Hospitals’ Innovation Pop Up, alongside start-ups, established industry players, academic institutions, government initiatives and community organisations.
Featuring co-working spaces, meeting rooms, event areas, offices and laboratories, the hub will be a catalyst for collaboration to advance scientific research into practical healthcare solutions, driving economic growth and improving patient care.
By integrating historic architecture with contemporary innovation, the hub will cultivate creativity, collaboration and technological advancements that will shape the future of healthcare within Leeds and the wider West Yorkshire region.
Mark Jackson, spokesperson for SGI, said:
“The Old Medical School is a very complicated building, located in the middle of a working hospital site, which brings unique challenges to its redevelopment. It will also serve as a catalyst for the wider Innovation Village, so it’s absolutely essential we have the right team on board to get this right.
“With AHR’s expertise in life sciences, Buttress’s heritage sensitivity, and the trusted collaboration of Buro Happold, BWF and Zerum, we’re confident this team has the experience and capability to deliver on every aspect of this ambitious vision.”
Buttress' Jenna Johnston commented:
"The Old Medical School is a beautiful building in the heart of Leeds that has a significant role to play in the Innovation District. The client and the design team understand that the significant historic fabric can make a vital contribution to the quality and character of the new health tech hub, and we’re thrilled to be supporting them in weaving together the old and the new."
Professor Phil Wood, Chief Executive at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Leeds General Infirmary site, added:
“Progress with the redevelopment of the Old Medical School is moving ahead really well, breathing new life into this grand, historic building that has witnessed countless contributions to healthcare in Leeds and across the world. Under this work, that legacy will continue.
“It is a key part of wider plans in this part of the city to create an Innovation Village, transforming health and life science-led research and care. It will also complement the development of a new state-of-the-art hospital on the Leeds General Infirmary site.”
Gurminder Sanghera, Director at AHR, commented:
“This redevelopment marks a significant milestone for the city of Leeds, at the heart of the Innovation Arc. The Old Medical School has a rich heritage, and our vision is to seamlessly weave in modern interventions to create an innovative facility that will foster and support a new community and ecosystem where cutting-edge health tech innovations can take place within a dramatic setting, whilst preserving and celebrating the building’s historical significance. This project is a true testament to the power of architecture to bridge past and future, in an exemplar and sustainable retrofit solution.”
The design team is now focused on refining the redevelopment plans, with a pre-application to Leeds City Council scheduled for early 2025.
Jenna Johnston
Jenna leads Buttress’ heritage consultancy team, providing clients with the resources and knowledge they need to better understand their heritage assets.
Freya Needham
Freya works with a range of clients, helping them to make informed decisions that respond appropriately to their project.