Parr and Co are pleased to have acted for the University of Sheffield on the newly opened Diamond building. The 19,500m2 Diamond, so-called because of the shape and colour of its glass and anodised aluminium facade, has been built to accommodate Sheffield’s growing engineering department, which aims to double in size by 2021.

The building, will eventually hold up to 5,000 students and will be used by other departments, promoting collaboration and cross-disciplinary study.

The building's façade was designed with reference to ‘cellular automaton’; a model used by the university to describe how the microstructure of steel adapts during processing.

Internally, the design features a naturally ventilated, central atrium with curved ‘pods’, used for informal study and group discussion. Classrooms, offices and laboratories with full-height glazing are located to the north and south of the atrium. A series of lecture theatres are located on the lower ground floor with a total capacity of 1,500 spaces.

PROJECT DATA
Start on site: August 2013
Completion date: September 2015
Location: Sheffield, UK
Type of project: 19,500m2 teaching and learning facility for University of Sheffield’s Faculty of Engineering.
Total project value: £81million
Client: University of Sheffield
Architect: Twelve Architects
Contractor: Balfour Beatty
Project & Cost Management: Turner & Townsend
Structural and Civil: Arup
M&E: Arup (stage A - E) & NG Bailey (Stage F)
BREEAM Assessment 3 Planets