Pudsey College, Leeds
- Sector
- Education
- Location
- Leeds
- Year
- 2025
Barrow Campus, University of Cumbria
Barrow-in-Furness
- Sector
- Education
- Location
- Barrow-in-Furness
- Year
- 2025
- Client
- University of Cumbria
- Value
- £8.8m
The University of Cumbria’s new Barrow Campus marks a major milestone in the university’s investment in engineering, health and advanced manufacturing.
Located on a 2.6-hectare dockside site, this landmark project saw us build high-quality, accessible teaching and learning spaces, cutting-edge workshop rooms, staff offices and versatile event and exhibition areas. With a design inspired by Barrow’s maritime heritage, the building stands as a striking new gateway to higher education in the region.
Sustainable Design
We built the Barrow Campus to achieve high standards in environmental efficiency. A fully gas-free building, it is primarily heated by an air source heat pump, significantly reducing its reliance on conventional energy sources. Solar PV panels installed on the roof generate power to support the building’s mechanical systems, further cutting energy demand from the national grid.
Natural light floods the first-floor communal areas through rooflights, reducing the need for artificial lighting. All mechanical and electrical systems are connected through a smart, cloud-based Building Management System (BMS), enabling remote monitoring and reducing long-term running costs for the university’s facilities team.
A Striking and Unique Design
The architectural concept of the campus draws inspiration from Barrow’s shipbuilding roots, with the north elevation designed to resemble a submarine surfacing from the water. The building’s curved form and distinctive rain screen cladding system bring this to life.
Externally, the building features two types of high-performance cladding systems, Kingspan Corten-effect and Equitone Linea fibre cement panels, achieving a minimum U-value of 0.15W/m²K. Combined with robust insulation and precise engineering, the building envelope contributes significantly to both aesthetics and energy efficiency.
Delivering Long-Term Social Value
Our commitment to the local community was central to the delivery of the Barrow Campus. We generated £1.8 million of social value, including donations to local charities such as Furness Homeless and Riding for the Disabled, and £1,500 to support the Hello Future school reading programme.
We also created apprenticeships and educational opportunities for local students. We engaged young learners from BAE Systems, the University of Cumbria and Furness College, including site visits, workshops and mentoring to offer a first-hand look at careers in construction.
The opening of our Barrow campus marks a transformative moment for both the University of Cumbria and the town itself. It is the result of nearly a decade of collaboration, vision, and belief in Barrow’s potential. Barrow is now a university town, and that unlocks new possibilities for regional growth, national resilience and lifelong opportunity.
