Architect beats Cullinans and Reiach & Hall

O’Donnell + Tuomey has been picked to design a new student hub at the University of Leeds after an RIBA-run competition.

The Dublin-based practice beat a strong line-up of finalists including Cullinan Studio, Reiach & Hall, Evans Vettori and Nicholas Hare Architects.

leeds 2

Leeds University

The new building on the university’s western campus will include teaching and learning spaces as well as support for student enterprise, innovation and careers advice.

Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey issued a statement saying the new red-brick building had been designed to both fit in with the surrounding buildings and standout as aa campus landmark.

The university has been revamping its estate over the past few years with work taking place at 19 different sites in the city in order to provide an extra 80,000m2 of space.

Julia Bennell, deputy dean of the university’s business school, said the project also gave the law and business schools space to grow.

The shortlist

Cullinan Studio with Turkington Martin

Evans Vettori Architects with Re-Form

Nicholas Hare Architects with Fabrik and Hesketh Hayden Architects

O’Donnell & Tuomey with Dermot Foley

Reiach and Hall Architects with rankinfraser and rtu. rob thompson urbanism