Leeds Trinity University’s purpose-built Health and Life Sciences building, located at its Main Campus in Horsforth, has been shortlisted for ‘Project of the Year for Education (Secondary and Higher)’ at the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) awards 2024. 

Opened for use in October 2023, the Health and Life Sciences building is the home of the University’s new Nursing degrees, which welcomed its first cohorts of students earlier this year.  

It contains a six-bed ward, high dependency unit, community flat, assisted bathing facility, clinical skills suite and wider teaching space. The facility provides students with flexible, agile and efficient learning spaces to help prepare them in providing personalised care to patients in hospital, their homes and the community, as well as maximising the use of digital health technology. 

The building is a modular construction, which sees individual components of a building produced in an off-site factory before being transported to the intended location and lifted into place. Leeds Trinity’s modular building was manufactured in 18 separate sections, before being assembled with precision at the Main Campus. This approach helped complete the work in a shorter timeframe than a traditional build, as well as being more cost effective. 

Now fully finished and operational, the building has been shortlisted for ‘Project of the Year for Education (Secondary and Higher)’ at the MMC awards. The awards celebrate the most innovative and inspiring uses of modern methods of construction.  

Scott Haigh, Project Manager in Construction at Leeds Trinity University, said: “We are delighted that the Health and Life Sciences building has been put forward for this award. The University’s Estates and Facilities team was tasked with creating a new, bespoke, stand-alone facility to provide clinical and practical teaching. The result is a modern, high quality modular build that has the look and feel of a traditional build.  

“We have received numerous positive comments from partners who have visited the building on how rare it is to have a bespoke standalone facility to carry out this type of teaching.” 

Abigail Lancaster, Academic Lead for Nursing at Leeds Trinity University, said: “I felt the design team listened to all aspects of design and supported the vision from start to end point to achieve the desired outcome. The attention to detail is to a very high specification and our first cohorts of students are already benefitting from learning in the environment. It will undoubtedly help them and future nursing students to feel confident and comfortable when working on hospital wards and out in the community.” 

Professor Charles Egbu, Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University, has an extensive background in construction and the built environment. His first Degree was in Quantity Surveying and his Doctorate was obtained in the area of Construction Project Management. Earlier in his career, Professor Egbu held the roles of Dean of the School of Built Environment and Architecture at London South Bank University and Head of the School of Built Environment at the University of Salford.  

Professor Egbu said: “While modular builds are not new, we have seen an increase in the popularity of this type of build in the UK in recent years. One of the key advantages of a modular build is the speed in which it can be produced and completed – as we saw for ourselves with the Health and Life Sciences building – helping the construction industry keep up with demand. This method is also more environmentally friendly, ensures less disruption for businesses, allows for bespoke designs and more affordable and flexible payment options.  

“The modular building on our Main Campus is a great example for students on our Construction and Built Environment courses to explore as a case study as part of their degree. I am proud Leeds Trinity has been shortlisted for this award and give huge thanks to all colleagues involved in making this happen. Good luck to all shortlisted nominees.” 

The MMC Awards will be announced at a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Birmingham on Wednesday 8 May.  

For more information on the Leeds Trinity Nursing degrees delivered at the shortlisted facility, visit the University website.