01 December 2008

University restores city icon for next generation

The University of Sheffield has breathed new life into one of Sheffield´s most treasured buildings, allowing future generations to enjoy its exquisite craftsmanship and grandeur for years to come. The Victorian Wing of the old Jessop Hospital for Women, which was the birth place of thousands of Sheffield residents, has been carefully restored and will now become home to the University´s Department of Music.

The Jessop Building, as it will now be known, is situated on Leavygreave Road in the Portobello area of the city. Restored by contractors Kier Northern and architects careyjones, the Grade II listed building covers a total of 1540 square metres over three floors. The building will provide office space for staff and postgraduate students and a computer studio for the University´s Department of Music, as well as teaching spaces for the University´s Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

The sensitive careyjones design involved reinstating and repairing many of the existing features of the building, as well as adding new features to the building. These include a new entrance to the rear of the building and TECU bronze cladding also to the rear. The TECU bronze will weather over the next few months, further complementing the colours of the original building.

All works to the external facade have been carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Planning and Conservation Officer of the City Council and have included cleaning brick and stonework, stone replacement works, stone repairs, building a new disabled persons´ access ramp, new sash windows with sash cords and the creation of a bay window for a ground floor teaching room.

Internally, the Victorian decorative fibrous plaster wall and ceiling mouldings have been renovated and the ornate stone staircases and dark corridors have also been transformed, creating a light spacious environment.

The Jessop Building is the latest in a series of University developments in the Portobello area of the city. These include the recently completed Soundhouse building, a state-of-the-art rubber box development which will provide practice studios, rehearsal spaces and recording rooms for the University´s Department of Music and a new landmark building on the vacant west corner of the old Jessop Hospital for Women site. The new building, Jessop West, was designed by architects Sauerbruch Hutton and will provide leading facilities for the University's Department of History and the School of English and the School of Modern Languages and Linguistics (SOMLAL).

Professor Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: "We feel extremely proud to be unveiling the carefully restored and renovated Jessop building. This is a building that is close to many people´s hearts and is an important part of Sheffield´s history. By bringing the building back to life we have created excellent facilities for our Department of Music and have retained a piece of exquisite Victorian architecture for the city."

Professor Simon Keefe, Head of the Department of Music at the University of Sheffield, said: "We are delighted to be moving into the Jessop Building. To be able to work in a building that is intrinsically linked to the history of the city is a great privilege. A light, spacious setting, the building is conducive to musical activities of all kinds and will complement the more modern Soundhouse, which will also be used by the Department. Located at the heart of the campus, it will also allow us to be at the hub of all the activity, which is great news for staff and students."

Mike Harris, Director at careyjones architects, said: "If the recently completed Soundhouse project represents modern and groundbreaking design, the restoration of the old Jessop Hospital for Women reflects how careful and considered design renovation can breathe life into a derelict building."