The University of Salford’s new health and wellbeing building is set for completion next year, and has been billed an “iconic” addition to the city.
Construction has started on the £54m project which is taking place on the A6, near Salford Crescent station and the Mary Seacole building.
It will become a new home for some of the University’s 8,400 students enrolled on courses in its School of Health and Society.
The building design includes a roof garden and outdoor spaces for students, which can also be enjoyed by university staff and the public, and has been designed to be fully-electric and low-carbon.
Bosses say they are aiming to have the site ready by October 2026 when it will feature clinical-grade facilities for students to learn and practice in spaces that look ‘identical’ to NHS-type settings.
“This building is going to be iconic,” Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey said. “The architecture is going to be something we’ve never seen before in Salford, it will be an eco-friendly building that harnesses the power of nature and creates a space of wellbeing for staff and students.”
Salford city mayor Paul Dennett added: “This promises to be yet another impressive addition to the city’s skyline and a further example of a commitment to low-carbon construction right here in Salford.”
The site is a key part of the University’s multi-million pound campus connectivity plan – a major redevelopment of its research, teaching and public spaces.
The new health and wellbeing site will also complement the wider £2.5bn Crescent Salford masterplan which is taking place in the city, delivered by Salford council in partnership with the University and ECF.
Vicky Halliwell, Interim Dean of the University’s School of Health and Society, said the new site will be “a very visible reminder that the University is here not only to educate future health and wellbeing professionals but also to help enrich the lives of the people of Salford.”
She added that local residents will be invited in to access health and wellness services and clinics run by the University’s partners.
Construction firm Kier is the main contractor for the work.
Sarah Morton, regional director of Kier Construction North and Scotland, said: “We are looking forward to working with the University of Salford on this significant project. With our extensive experience in the education, healthcare, and science and technology sectors, we are eager to leverage our expertise to create a cutting-edge facility that will serve the needs of students, staff and the wider community for many years to come.”
